South Grenville middle school students start custom apparel business

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What started out as a classroom project at South Grenville District High School has blossomed into a thriving student-led business.

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Last year, Grade 7 students launched Giants Ink, a custom apparel venture that was part of a Real World Learning (RWL) initiative at their school.

As part of the venture, students began designing and producing items such as clothing, decals, and stickers. 

Their creativity quickly gained the attention of local organizations and businesses, leading to real contracts and hands-on business experience.

“It’s like you’re in the word problem,” said student Mikaella Bellefeuille. “Instead of just writing down the answer, you’re actually doing it. I saw someone in town wearing our shirt and I said ‘I made that!’”

As the year went on, students realized that higher-quality production required professional-grade equipment, so they took their learning one step further by crafting a detailed business plan and pitching it to the school board’s RWL team in the spring.

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Impressed by their professionalism and vision, the RWL team approved funding for a state-of-the-art direct to film printer that has helped them take Giants Ink to the next level.

With this new equipment, the 2025-26 school year is seeing Giants Ink produce custom apparel for a range of community groups, local businesses, and nearby elementary schools. 

Most recently, the Giants Ink team created shirts for the Spencerville Kraft Hockeyville campaign.

Now in Grade 8, Giants Ink founding students continue to operate the business outside of school time, spending a few hours a week after school preparing designs and running the heat press.

“It means the world to me that they give up their own time and they actually want to learn to do this, and they see the bigger picture,” said teacher Andrew Carson. “They’re helping their community and exploring possible future careers in the apparel business or being an entrepreneur.”

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Through their work, students are developing valuable skills in design, marketing, budgeting, customer service, and entrepreneurship, and now they’re giving back at the same time. 

Ten per cent of all Giants Ink profits are donated to Connect Youth, a local organization that provides resources, programming, and advocacy for young people in Leeds and Grenville.

“It’s fun to help out, especially when we’re giving some to Connect Youth,” said Giants Ink founder and current Grade 8 student Gracie Foreman.

Next on the to-do list for the student team members is to train the incoming Grade 7 students in all aspects of the business, so that Giants Ink can continue on for years to come.

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