“I’m just tryin’ to spread the like.” John Edellstein

MAUI - All too often in life, the simple ideas are the best. John Edellstein, founder of Positive Apparel and spreadthelike.com, has found success and started a movement all with the simplest of ideas, “I like you”. Three simple words used to express the most basic of emotions and yet the importance of the phrase seems to be falling by the wayside. The “Spread the like” Campaign seeks to use this simple mantra to bring a little positive energy back to the world, one piece of clothing at a time.

The Spread the Like movement began in 1999, while founder John was joking around with some coworkers at the office. “I was joking around with my buddy Jimmy Shlinker and he leaned over and said “Ya know Johnny, I like you”, and a light bulb went on”.

Johnny soon began printing this simple three word phrase on T shirts and wearing them while out with friends. “The reaction was always positive and led to so many great interactions. It made it easy to say hey, I like you” says Johnny.

Though his shirts had begun bringing positive waves to the world, it would take a move to the island of Maui to raise the “Spread the Like” Campaign to the next level. Motivated by the Aloha spirit, Johnny decided to expand his Positive Apparel clothing brand as well as launching the spreadthelike.com website to take the campaign global. As the movement picked up momentum, Johnny decided to begin giving back to those who needed some “like” the most.

“Right now I give 5% of my profits to the St. Jude Children’s Hospital with hopes to raise that number as business progresses. Ultimately, I want to donate a billion dollars to charity.” Johnny says, chuckling a little but utterly serious.

Johnny has plans to work with additional charities in the future as well as launching a new line of clothing in conjunction with Maui Brewing Co. Melanie and Garret, owners of Maui Brewing Co., have been instrumental in getting the “I Like You” message to the masses. M.B.C caries the full line of Positive Apperal and even allows the use of Positive Apparel clothing as staff uniforms. Maui Brewing Co. contributes to many local charities and is a definite proponent of the Aloha spirit, so the partnership with Positive Apparel seemed like a perfect fit.

So, for those of us in need of a little positivity, checkout spreadthelike.com or “Spread the Like” on Facebook and get some Positive Apparel. Johnny would be glad to ship you a little "like" no matter where you are, so be the first on your block to “Spread the Like”.