PALS STORY
After college, I was working as an agency Art Director and Designer on different kid-focused brands. I started dabbling in selling assorted gifty novelties I designed (toilet seat covers, mugs, valentines, greeting cards).
This hobby evolved into a side hustle where I created and sold mismatched animal mittens, called Vs. Mittens. It was super fun but as it turns out, mittens are SO seasonal! My first lesson in business. The mismatched mittens morphed into less seasonal mismatched socks.
But, it got me thinking. I want to use my design for good, create something that inspired friendship over fighting. I not only wanted to create the most fun socks ever. I wanted to also spread a powerful and much needed message to our future adults, decision makers and global citizens (kids!) that we don’t have to match to be besties.
And life is so much more fun, interesting and exciting when we are open to other kinds of people and ways of thinking. So Vs. became Pals. And spreads this social mission in a simple yet effective way.
I also wanted Pals to do good not just in our socks concept but to also give back. Earlier in Pals history, we had a buy 1 donate 1 program with Cradle to Crayons of Philadelphia.
After it ended, I felt we could do more. So in 2018, Pals launched a fundraising program as a way to give back! We donate a whopping 50% of sales from Pals sold, whereas most programs only give back 30% tops. So far we have worked with over 150 organizations and raised over $150,000!
Hooray Hoopla LLC, makers of Pals, is proud to be a woman and LGBT owned business based in Philadelphia, PA.
WOMAN & LGBTQ-OWNED
ETHICALLY PRODUCED
CREATES A FRIENDLIER WORLD
GIVES
BACK
OUR MISSION
WE BELIEVE IT’S
TO BE
FRIENDS WITH SOMEONE DIFFERENT.
LIFE IS
WITH
FRESH PERSPECTIVES
AND NEW
YOU DON’T HAVE TO MATCH PERFECTLY
WITH YOUR
MATCH.
WE
THE NEXT
GENERATION WITH THIS SIMPLE IDEA.
PALS TEAM
Founder, CEO and Creative Director
Originally from Great Neck, NY, Hannah is now a happy transplant in Philly, PA! With a background in design and creative direction, Hannah started Pals with $600 and a dream to end hate, racism and bullying. Hannah designs all original series of Pals and is the driving force for all things creative at Hooray Hoopla! Hannah is a new mom and an eternal child - curious, creative, and full of wonder.
COO and Strategic Partnerships
Born in the former Soviet Union in Odessa, Ukraine, Edward and his parents were approved for refugee status to start a new life in the US when he was 5. He launched his career in advertising design despite being challenged with color blindness. He wanted his work to have a meaningful impact on the world. He was very excited when he met Hannah and learned about Pals Socks. Edward is a new dad living in Philly!
SUSTAINABILITY
Pals Socks are ethically-made by our partners in Colombia and China, who follow environmentally friendly and sustainable practices.
ETHICALLY MADE
Our manufacturing partners all meet BSCI, OEKO Tex, and Gold Wrap in-spections standards. They are certified for paying fair wages, no forced labor, no unpaid overtime, and no child labor.
SUSTAINABLE RESOURCES
We never use petroleum-based dyes, and we stay away from fleece and plastic-based synthetic materials. Cotton is our material of choice, and we are actively working to reduce the small amount of synthetics we do use like acrylic and polyester.
ECO-FRIENDLY PRACTICES
Our partners’ facilities partake in textile recycling and environmental responsibility. The Pals Wearhouse reduces waste in every way we can - if it can be recycled, composted or reused, it will be!
REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE!
We print most of our packaging and shipping cartons on 100% recycled paper (or FSC certified) and are in the process of purging all plastic in our packaging.
BUILT TO LAST
Yous Pals should last at least 10 years! (Although we do encourage all of our customers to drop off their Pals at a textile recycling center when they've reached the end of their journey.)
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