Dreamer Award winner 2021
Making Dreams Come True awarded Kris Napper the 2021 Dreamer Award. Kris is an extraabled entrepreneur and the owner of www.snappyclothing.com
My name is Kris Napper. I live with two human roommates and two dog roommates in a small home in Lynnwood, WA. From my bedroom, I do graphic design work, illustration, and run my own business, Snappy Clothing! I am technically single, but I have a wonderful life partner in my service dog, Jazz.
Being disabled/extra-abled provides me with a unique life experience that is sometimes a challenge and at other times a blessing. Facing inaccessibility, ableism, and health concerns can be frustrating and exhausting. However, it has also made me a more creative problem solver, it’s given me a community of the most incredible people, and it’s opened my eyes and made me more empathetic towards people whose needs are different than mine! At times I might struggle with the challenges I face because of my disability. However, being extra-abled has provided me with added perspective, cherished life experiences, and relationships that I wouldn’t trade for anything in the world!
As a kid, I covered my family’s fridge in drawings of my favorite sports stars and ninja turtles. I loved creating art and knew that was what I wanted to do with my life. My high school art teacher did a wonderful job helping me realize the career opportunities in art. I knew my physical ability to draw was declining. So, I obtained design software and taught myself how to create graphic art on my computer. I began doing freelance design jobs for extra money as I entered college. Some of my favorite requests were for t-shirt designs! Seeing people appreciate my artwork enough to wear it, gave me an immense sense of pride! However, I craved more creative freedom. While I enjoyed (and continue to enjoy) helping people with their clothing design ideas, I wanted to bring some of my own ideas to life. I dreamt of creating and selling my own graphic apparel. However, having no business experience, and concerns that I would be unable to handle some of the physical demands of an apparel business, I didn’t see how I could achieve this goal. After casually mentioning my idea to a couple of friends, they immediately offered to partner with me and make this dream a reality. For various reasons our business and partnership were short-lived, but along the way, I learned the ins and outs of the apparel business and printing process. With this newfound knowledge, I set out once more to launch a clothing business on my own this time. I searched relentlessly to find a fulfillment service that would print my designs and ship my products, while simultaneously teaching myself how to build a website and e-commerce store. Before I knew it, Snappy Clothing was born!
My vision for Snappy Clothing is to create unique, eye-catching designs, and provide the best apparel for all occasions at the most affordable prices. I plan to continue serving the extra-abled community by offering my services to non-profits and organizations and assisting them in raising funds and awareness. I also hope others in the extra-abled community will look at Snappy Clothing and see possibilities in their own professional careers!
I hope to continue to grow my business and provide clothing and designs for as many people, businesses, and organizations as possible. Of course, I hope to gain financial security for myself, but I would also love to be able to hire other extra-abled artists to contribute designs and help them to make money as well!
