NC State’s Office of Strategic Brand Management is excited to introduce its latest apparel licensee, Girl Tribe Co., a women-positive graphic T-shirt company founded by high school best friends Carrie Barker and Sarah Baucom in 2014 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Barker, a trained architect and graphic designer, joined forces with Baucom, a trained interior designer and seasoned retail professional, to create a witty brand voice that is driven by pop culture and celebrates all of life’s happiest occasions.
In 2017, the pair opened the first of their two brick-and-mortar locations in Charlotte and launched the brand’s robust e-commerce site. The brand is also sold in more than 150 stores across the United States. All design, printing and fulfillment of the company’s products happen in its own facility.
Girl Tribe entered the brand licensing scene in fall 2023 by collaborating with the NFL’s Carolina Panthers on a best-selling line of apparel. The Panthers products caught the attention of NC State’s director of trademark licensing, Gregg Zarnstorff, who reached out to the company. “Their approach to apparel was fun, whimsical and trendy, and we thought they would be a good fit with designs featuring our Ms. Wuf mascot,” Zarnstorff said.
“Licensing has been something we have been working on for years, and it has finally come to fruition,” Baucom said. “Working with NC State University on its first ever Ms. Wuf-facing line has been an honor and a lot of fun. She has a great history, and we are so excited to begin to better tell her story through licensed apparel for women and youth.”
You can find the NC State line of Girl Tribe apparel at Girl Tribe’s website: girltribeco.com
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