Born in the Golden Age of Saturday Morning Cartoons
I came into this world right around the time He-Man was flexing his might in Eternia and The Goonies were on the big screen. My weekends? A perfectly balanced routine of ordering pizza, beating NES games with my trusty Game Genie, and hitting up Blockbuster Video to scour the shelves for the latest VHS release.
If you could see my bedroom back then, you’d spot action figures of all shapes and sizes: Masters of the Universe, Autobots, GI-Joe's, TMNT—you name it, I had it. (Yes, my parents deserve an award for tolerating the clutter.)
From Naval Adventures to Movies
Before diving into the world of graphic tees, I spent eight years serving on the USS McFaul, USS Kinkaid, and USS Fletcher. Talk about a crash course in discipline, teamwork, and seeing the world. After my time in the Navy, I jumped into the film industry, scouting locations and even landing a gig as the motion designer for theStar Wars: Rogue Onepremiere. If there’s a unifying thread through all of it, it’s my love for storytelling—whether on a ship, on a movie set, or now through shirt designs.
Where the Idea Sparked
People often ask, “What made you start Throwback Paradise?” and the simple answer is that I love designing. I have been a motion designer for about 15 years and could spend all day sitting in photoshop designing.
I’ve also always been the go-to person for geeky trivia (as long as it’s not sports!), and the thought of sharing that nostalgia on a grand scale just wouldn’t leave me alone. I started designing shirts for friends and family just around the holidays and they took off, I was constantly getting "Where did you get that shirt".
Throwback Paradise started as a simple passion project. I tinkered with designs inspired by iconic movies, TV shows, and video games—stuff that still makes me grin from ear to ear. I’d post them online, and folks would say, “I’ve never seen that design before—where can I get one?” Soon enough, I found myself staying up late, juggling designs and shipping, and realizing this could be so much bigger than I ever imagined.
Of course, just like beating a super-tough NES boss, building Throwback Paradise hasn’t been all cheat codes and warp zones. There’ve been tough moments—finding the right suppliers, juggling day jobs, and outsmarting competition. But every hurdle reminds me why I’m doing this in the first place: to celebrate the memories we all share and spark that moment of “Oh wow, I remember this!” every time you put on a Throwback Paradise tee.
Press Start for the Next Level
So here we are. I’m still that nerdy kid at heart, mesmerized by retro cartoons and vintage video games—and absolutely thrilled that I get to share it all with you through these designs. Thank you for dropping by and supporting a brand that’s all about reliving the best parts of our childhood. I’ve got plenty of ideas up my sleeve, so stick around—the best is yet to come!
You can always reach me personally at [email protected], I love hearing from our fans and what they would like to see in the store.
– Frank
Founder of Throwback Paradise and Keeper of All the Nostalgic Feels