I was the first out of all of my friends to get pregnant, and while the journey of welcoming a new life into the world was undeniably exciting, it was also accompanied by an overwhelming sense of isolation. For whatever reason, I didn't want to bother anyone in real life with my daily ups and downs, so I poured my heart into making online videos as if these accounts were my personal diary. And do you know what I realized? I wasn't alone. In fact, I was traveling through motherhood with so many incredible and wonderful women by my side, even if I couldn't actually see them next to me. That's my wish for you when you wear this sweatshirt. I hope it feels like a warm hug from me to you, like a gentle reminder that no matter what you are going through, there is someone else going through something similar either across the street or across the ocean.

Because that is exactly what you have done for me, and I'll never be able to thank you enough for helping me feel sane in the moments where l've felt quite the opposite. I still don't know how to explain parenthood when someone asks. The days are made up of all of these magical moments that make my heart feel like it could burst into a million pieces as well as all of these not so magical moments where l'm at my wits end wondering how in the world I'm going to make it to bedtime. The best way l've found to describe it is like you've been tossed into the ocean. In the gentle swells, we find solace, and in the mighty storms, we discover our strength. In the end, all we can do is let go and let the tide carry us through this wonderful, scary, beautiful, and who-knows-what's-next journey. Thank you for riding along the waves with me.

We worked with Annalee on developing this color story. She wanted to do something neutral along with secondary color option that offered a bit more color. We landed on these rich, warm autumn tones. The two color stories offered in this collection are 'Sand' with a 'Maroon' screen-print and 'Midnight' with an 'Bone' screen-print. We did a full back print featuring the woman, waves and mountains.

What we love about this graphic is how each person interprets it a little differently. For the front, we chose a simple wave with a left chest location.

Each crewneck is custom branded with the 'Along the Waves' logo, size and fabric content inside the neck. These custom tagless neck labels give a personal touch.

We love the tagless option because of the sleek comfort it provides. 

For the fnishing touch, we added a woven label to the right arm cuff. Woven labels can be used as a primary decoration or in this case as a secondary branding finish.

These woven labels come in many sizes and styles and add a subtle but elevated look. 

From our first conversation, the passion and 'why' behind Annalee's brand was obvious. She works by day, takes care of her two young children and has created a platform on social media. This was her first experience launching a brand and selling a product.

We worked closely together on sampling different styles and colors of apparel. She wanted something that felt like your dads old crewneck. We knew exactly what she meant. It feels cozy, relaxed and perfectly worn in. It's nostalgic. Once we narrowed it down, we ran sample production on both color ways. From here she shot lifestyle images for her website and began promoting. Next, full production was underway! 

Annalee has built a following of women who have come together from all walks of life to share, support and uplift one another. From all over the world, her account makes these moments of early motherhood feel less lonely. Now, with Along the Waves, these pieces are sharing that same message. It's been an honor to work alongside her to bring her vision to life. We're looking forward to what she does next! 

The store is now live, and you can shop these pieces at www.alongthewaves.com