Student Business Highlight: Living Garments

With Colorado Christian University’s School of Business and Leadership being such a popular  program, it’s no surprise that our campus is filled with students who run their own businesses— Max Fessler and his Christian fashion brand, Living Garments, being an example. 

I first met Max, an Entrepreneurship major with a minor in International Business, on a camping  trip. While I had heard a bit about Living Garments then, and in other conversations, I had the  opportunity to dive deeper into his story during a trip to Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park,  a place that inspired one of his designs. 

Max’s passion for fashion eventually led to the creation of Living Garments. “I was really into  fashion at the time, but I sucked. Like, I did not have a closet. I think most of my closet was from  my mom, so I was just matching colors,” he shared. Through a combination of thrifting,  sketching, and sewing clothes with a sewing machine he borrowed from his mom, Max began to  shape what he wanted for a clothing brand. 

In March 2023, after extensive research, he laid the groundwork for his brand but lacked the time  to fully commit. “I was working full-time at the airport. And then at a skate park, shredded it out,  and I broke my leg. So I took that as a sign that I should probably start this. So the next four to  five weeks, I just grinded it out—the website, marketing, ordering product, everything.” 

With the purpose of creating high-quality products that glorify the Lord and starting Christ centered conversations, on June 6, 2023, Living Garments launched its first product. 

In every conversation I’ve had with Max, it’s clear that Christ is his motivation—not only in his  personal life but also in his brand. He shared that Jesus keeps him going. When I asked him  about ministry and its significance to him, he explained that ministry is his entire life, especially  through Living Garments. “I don’t think there’s any part of my business where it’s not an aspect  of ministry.” He added, “I think that literally, every aspect of the business, I have to implement  Christ because, without Christ, I’m just a little boy,” he joked. 

When it comes to Max’s design inspiration, many factors come into play. “Well, right now, we’re  at the Tetons, and that was a huge inspiration for me because I was into Kanye for a minute. And  then YZY really inspired me, as far as, like, the fit of how garments go,” he explained. The  mountains not only influenced the fit of the clothing but also inspired the design of his “Created  in Christ” shirt, which came to him in a vision during a worship night in the summer of 2023.  Max also gave a special shout-out to his mom, describing her as a “powerhouse of an engineer and a powerhouse of an entrepreneur,” adding, “it would be very difficult for me to do the things  I do now without my mom.” 

Since Max’s brand is rooted in ministry, he measures success not by worldly standards but  through his obedience to the Lord and his personal spiritual journey. “There’s been times where,  in the natural, it doesn’t look like I’m succeeding, but in my obedience to the Lord, it has always  ended up blowing my mind at what He can do,” he shared. By defining success through Christ,  Max has seen the Lord work in various ways, opening new doors and opportunities. “I think the  Lord has really used the shirts and the garments and the business, in general, to bring new people  into my life, and through those people, I’ve gotten closer to Him.” 

Max Fessler’s journey with Living Garments is a clear testament to his faith, personal growth,  and business ventures. As both he and his brand continue to evolve, it’s evident that every aspect  of his life, including his business, is a part of his ministry. Living Garments is more than just a  clothing line. He explains, “Instead of just designing with my eyeballs, I take direct inspiration  from the Holy Spirit and the Word, and I pray for each of the garments and give them to the Lord  to use as He pleases.”