Life & Work with Sun Kim of Torrance

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sun Kim.

Hi Sun, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
We both come from design backgrounds, having spent years in the ad agency and consulting worlds. Along the way, we realized we wanted to use our combined experience to build something of our own, something thoughtful, creative, and capable of connecting with people on a personal level.

That curiosity led us to explore how our fun designs could live beyond client work and be shared in a more meaningful way. After plenty of trial and error (and learning what it really takes to turn an idea into a product), we launched our first collection of Story Spark graphic tees back in 2015.

Since then, we’ve grown by showing up wherever we can: at events, online and in person, meeting people who resonate with our designs and enjoy sharing those messages with others. Those moments of connection continue to fuel what we do today—creating distinctive designs, telling thoughtful stories, and sparking a few smiles along the way.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Like most small businesses, our journey has come with its share of challenges. Some were logistical, others deeply personal, but each one pushed us to grow. Expanding our team meant learning how to let go, communicate better, and trust others with a vision that started very close to home. Creating new designs brought its own uncertainty—putting something out into the world without knowing how it will be received is always a leap of faith.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
What we’re most proud of is the response we hear from our community, especially when customers tell us how meaningful our shirts have been as gifts. Hearing that someone bought a design for a friend, a partner, or a family member because it “felt so them,” or that it sparked a smile or a conversation, is incredibly rewarding. Those moments remind us that what we’re creating goes beyond apparel—it becomes part of someone’s story.

What sets us apart is our intentionality. In a media landscape that often leans negative, we choose to lead with positivity, curiosity, and connection. Every design is created locally in Southern California, and our garments are produced through socially responsible global partners we’re proud to support. At the end of the day, we’re here to make thoughtful designs that resonate, inspire, and bring people together through a shared love of art and technology.

Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
Some of my favorite childhood memories are the simple ones—Saturday mornings spent watching cartoons and afternoons glued to after-school specials like Schoolhouse Rock. Those moments were equal parts fun and formative, sparking curiosity, creativity, and a love for learning that still shows up in my work today.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://storyspark.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/storyspark
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/storyspark
• LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/story-spark
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/storyspark
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/storysparked
• Other: https://tiktok.com/@storyspark

Image Credits
Alex Louie and Sun Kim