A Homage to ArtsCow: When Creativity Gets Caught in the Crossfire

A Homage to ArtsCow: When Creativity Gets Caught in the Crossfire

Today, I write with a heavy heart.

With the rising costs of tariffs, importation, and exportation, the ripple effects are reaching far and wide—and for us at Please Don’t Die Black Men (PDDBM), one company in particular has taken a devastating hit: ArtsCow.

ArtsCow was more than just a vendor. It was the first company I used to bring my vision of all-over print fashion to life. They helped me design clothes and shoes that told stories, honored heritage, and allowed my soul to breathe freely through art. I’ve completed countless designs with them, and their closure feels deeply personal.

No other U.S.-based company offers all-over print (AOP) shoes like they did. Even companies like Printful rely on China for their footwear. So when ArtsCow announced they would be shutting down due to tariff hikes and rising costs, it felt like the creative rug was pulled from underneath me.

“All-over print,” also known as AOP or full print, refers to a technique where your design covers the entire surface of a garment or product—not just one area. Through sublimation printing, a design is heat-transferred from special paper to fabric, allowing you to express your full vision without compromise.

This technique allowed me and countless others to turn our hearts into wearable canvases. It was more than business—it was therapy. Art heals me. It feeds me. It gives me life. Losing ArtsCow feels like losing a piece of my creative spirit.

Here’s the official message I received:

Important Announcement: Closure of ArtsCow.com - A Heartbreaking Decision Requiring Your Action

“This was not a choice we made lightly and comes as a result of significant challenges, primarily driven by the newly implemented US tariffs, coupled with a substantial increase in our overall operating costs and other contributing factors. … The cut-off date for accepting new orders will be April 24, 2025. … This has been a truly heartbreaking decision for our entire team. We are incredibly grateful for your loyalty and the trust you have placed in ArtsCow over the years.”— Sarah, ArtsCow Customer Service Team

Unfortunately, the hits just keep coming.

Joann Fabrics and Crafts, another creative cornerstone, is also closing all 800+ stores after filing bankruptcy twice in less than a year. This is where I get my yarn for arts and crafts, to braid my daughter’s hair (yes, I use yarn—not weave), and for so many projects that feed both our imaginations and souls. Their absence will leave a void in our community that Amazon simply can’t fill.

What we’re seeing is not just the fall of businesses—it’s the crumbling of platforms that supported expression, identity, and connection.

The Power of Art and Creative Expression

Creative expression—through fashion, film, writing, music, or crafting—is essential. It’s how we process emotions, discover who we are, connect with our ancestors, and inspire others. For youth especially, art is a lifeline:

• It improves critical thinking, problem-solving, and fine motor skills.

• It fosters confidence, self-worth, and emotional regulation.

• It builds communication skills, social awareness, and resilience.

• It provides a safe outlet for joy, sadness, trauma, and triumph.

Our PDDBM afterschool programs are built on this foundation because we believe art changes lives. I’ve seen kids bloom when they realize their vision matters.

And I’ve felt it myself.

Why You Matter. Why Voting Matters. Why Community Matters.

Some people think their vote doesn’t count—or that their choices don’t matter. But everything we do or don’t do ripples out, like electricity. The tariffs that closed ArtsCow weren’t just political—they were personal. These closures aren’t isolated events; they affect real people, real children, and real dreams.

“Real life ... it’s contact. It’s you and me. We’re flesh and bone, yeah, but we’re also electricity,” Michelle says in The Electric State.“And when we hug and laugh and hold hands and argue, my particles stay with you and yours stay with me and maybe we stay together forever. But that can’t happen if you close yourself off. It can only happen out here in the real world.”

That quote has never felt more timely.

We are all connected. And that connection is our strength.

The Role of Nonprofits—and How You Can Help

Nonprofits like PDDBM exist to serve the community. We help youth find their voices through fashion, journalism, and filmmaking. But we rely on grants, donations, and community support. That support doesn’t always mean money—it can mean:

• Liking, sharing, or commenting on our posts.

• Subscribing to our YouTube or newsletters.

• Telling a friend about us.

• Volunteering if you can.

• Showing up when it matters.

Even small actions help keep the lights on and the programs running.

Good Deeds Are Contagious

Look at people like Juan Gonzalez, who gave away $10,000 worth of gas. Or the Big Dig event in Columbia, SC, where 212 cars were given $41 each in gas. Or Pastor Jesse Sims with “Gas on God,” helping families when they needed it most.

These acts of kindness are proof that generosity inspires more generosity. We are a community—and what we do, or don’t do, always has impact.

In closing, I want to thank ArtsCow. Thank you for giving me and so many others a space to dream out loud. Thank you for helping us feel seen, bold, and unafraid to wear our art on our sleeves—literally.

I’ll miss you deeply.

And to everyone reading this—please, don’t underestimate the power you hold. Share this post. Support a nonprofit. Create something. Speak up. Show up. Hug your neighbor. Smile at a stranger. Keep your electricity flowing.

Because in the end…

"That can’t happen if you close yourself off. It can only happen out here in the real world.”

Let’s stay open.

Let’s stay creative.

Let’s stay connected.

With love and gratitude,

Ruby N. Lewis

President & Chairwoman, PDDBM