I’ll never forget the first time I wore a sober shirt out in public.
I must have been about six months sober. I was just starting to feel proud of my accomplishment, and not so ashamed of my addiction. I remember feeling a bit anxious about advertising my recovery for the whole world to see. But I also thought someone would see my shirt and maybe feel a bit of hope, feel a bit less alone. So I put on the shirt, and I headed to town to run some errands.
I was in the vitamins section of the local health food store, comparing protein powders, when a woman who worked there walked up. “Can I ask you a question?” She asked. “Yeah, of course,” I replied, a bit distracted. She pointed at my shirt and asked, “Is it worth it?” I stopped and turned, made eye contact. And I don’t think I’ll ever forget the look in her eyes. “Absolutely. It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done, and my life is a thousand times better for it.”
We spent another fifteen minutes talking, right there next to the collagen supplements and digestive enzymes. She told me some of her story. I shared some of mine. She asked me some questions. She cried. We hugged.
I haven’t talked to her since then. But that moment was precious to me, and solidified my decision to wear shirts that share with the world that I’m sober. I got my wish. She felt some hope, and felt less alone.
Where to find great sober gear:
If you’re ready to share your sobriety with the world and you’re looking for great places to find sober t-shirts and other gear, check out this list of sober clothing brands we love! Sober shirts are a great way to celebrate a new sobriety milestone, or just a great way to add some meaningful pieces to your wardrobe.
Old City Cherry on Etsy: This is where I got the shirt I talk about above, and it’s still my favorite!
Honeyshirt on Etsy: I got my “Sober, Wild and Free” shirt here. Great quality, and quick shipping!
Sober Gangster: We’ve enjoyed having Jason from Sober Gangster on the podcast a couple of times (check out E70: Dealing with Boredom in Sobriety and E73: The Next Chapter – Maintaining Sobriety Afte the Early Days.) Jason has been sober for 27 years, and shares his recovery journey openly and honestly on his Facebook page, always inspiring and supporting others. On his website, Jason sells his “Sober Gangster” apparel.
Dear Recovery: We’ve also had the pleasure of chatting with Adriana from Dear Recovery on the podcast (check out that same episode mentioned above, Dealing with Boredom in Sobriety.) Adriana runs a hoppin’ sober Facebook group, and also designs and sells great recovery apparel and other items.
Doing It Sober: I’m loving the huge selection of shirt designs from Doing It Sober. Creator Daniella Park shares some of her journey to recovery on her website – be sure to check that out while you’re shopping!
HappyEdenCo on Etsy: Love how Emily makes shirts not just for sobriety, but also for other important groups of people that deserve to have their voices heard!
What are your favorite sober clothing brands?
This list is only a small assortment of shops – feel free to add your favorites in the comments!
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Awesome blog! 👌 Thanks for adding me to your beautiful article. 😍 Keep up the great work! Xo Daniella 🤗
That’s a great story, I get sneers and laughs.