Hawaiian shirt company raises awareness for people with Down syndrome

CHICAGO — When Nate Simon was born, helium was sick. Doctors told his mother, Holly, helium wasn’t expected to beryllium capable to locomotion oregon talk.

“I decidedly privation the satellite to spot that our kids tin bash much and beryllium much than what others person expected,” said Holly Simon.

For the past 19 years, Nate, who has Down syndrome, has been proving everyone wrong.

“You've done millions of things successful your small life,” Holly said to Nate.

The walls of his chamber are lined with much than a 100 Special Olympics golden medals.

“I play basketball. I'm precise bully astatine play and bowling,” said Nate.

A fashion-lover, the teen and his exemplary sister person walked the runway for L.A. Fashion Week. He’s rubbed elbows with celebrities similar Lady Gaga, and he’s besides got a immense pursuing connected TikTok.

And it was connected the societal media level Nate archetypal connected with a Colorado-based comedian and influencer known online arsenic Officer Daniels.

“I came crossed their relationship and instantly fell successful emotion and followed and reached retired and said, ‘Hey, I emotion what you guys are doing. I person a sister who has Down syndrome arsenic well, and I'd emotion to conscionable connect,'” said Daniels.

That transportation turned into a friendship, with astonishment visits and a deepening bond.

“When they met, determination was magic betwixt the 2 of them,” said Holly.

So, erstwhile Holly Simon turned to Officer Daniels to find a mode to rise consciousness and springiness back, they recovered inspiration successful Nate’s signature style.

“It deed maine 1 time that Nate loves Hawaiian shirts, and determination wasn't a azygous crushed wherefore helium couldn't ain his ain Hawaiian garment company,” said Daniels.

That's erstwhile 21 Pineapples was born. It was named for the other 21st chromosome radical with Down syndrome person and Nate’s favourite fruit.

“I emotion pineapples. I emotion to devour them. And I similar the crown of the pineapple,” said Nate.

“Because why? It's similar a crown,” said Holly. “And don't you deliberation each kids with antithetic abilities should deterioration crowns?”

“Yes, I do,” responded Nate.

The institution sells bright, bold Hawaiian shirts and accessories with a information of the proceeds going to enactment Down syndrome organizations astir the world.

“I had idiosyncratic archer maine that this information wasn't to beryllium celebrated, and this is precisely wherefore we're doing it— to beryllium those kinds of radical wrong,” said Daniels.

“Kids similar Nate don't usually person opportunities to ain their ain companies oregon beryllium CEOs,” said Holly. “And now, he's the boss.

Within the archetypal 2 days of going live, they sold out, crashing their website.

Officer Daniels says it’s conscionable 1 mode he’s been capable to observe his elder sister, Heather, and his relationship with Nate.

“They person each the emotion successful the world, and a batch of times they don't get it back. So, that's kept maine precise humble,” helium said.

For the Simons and the full squad astatine 21 Pineapples, wherever immoderate spot a disability, they spot endless abilities.

“When everybody is acrophobic oregon sad, we request thing to clasp connected to that's positive,” said Holly. “And there's thing much affirmative than a young antheral pursuing a dream.”