Our oldest son is the artist behind the brand. This is his story:

My name is Garrett C. Jones. I was about 9 or 10 years old when I had the idea of Band ToGGether. I have two brothers, one younger brother named Gavin and an older brother named Peter. Gavin and I have a rare genetic disorder that affects the nervous system called Pelizaeus Merzbacher Disease (PMD). One day I was watching a TV show about kids starting businesses. I got the idea to start selling rubber bands to help my parents take care of Gavin and me. After high school, I went to a transition program called Illinois Center for Rehabilitation and Education ICRE. I had an Art Therapy class. It was my favorite class. I learned about color and abstract art. This gave me the freedom to express myself because PMD makes it hard for me to write or draw on paper. My advisor, a speech therapist, introduced me to a computer program called Paint 3D. I could use my computer and my power wheelchair joystick to do my art when I wanted.

At ICRE, I also learned art could be used as a business.

During the beginning of the pandemic, I did a lot of art. I wanted to share it with others in a fun and practical way. My aunt suggested that I put my artwork on mugs. My family relaunched Band ToGGether (2 Gs for Garrett and Gavin). I want people to enjoy their “cuppa… in a mug of colorful inspiration.”