Between Black Friday sales and last-minute holiday shopping, a pop-up storefront in the Southbury Green plaza is garnering attention for reasons beyond seasonal retail.
Founded by Southbury resident Marla Wayne, Dripability is a mission-driven apparel brand providing a workforce model designed to support young adults with special needs.
The start-up opened up a holiday pop-up shop on Black Friday, where they offer apparel like sweatshirts, sweatpants, T-shirts, and tote bags. The business will occupy the space in the plaza, at 775 Main Street South, until December 24, 2025.
As Wayne’s son, Justin, now 23, aged out of the Region 15 School District’s special education transition services, she was left wondering what was next for him.
Justin was diagnosed with Fragile X Syndrome, a genetic condition that is estimated to affect about 1 in 7,000 males and about 1 in 11,000 females, according to the Center for Disease Control. Fragile X Awareness Day is celebrated around the world annually on July 22.
While some jobs worked and others didn’t, there weren’t many local options for young adults in Justin’s position.
The Southbury mom and special education advocate then asked herself, “What could we do in this neck of the woods?”
And what has emerged over the past few weeks, Wayne says, is more than a proof of concept.
“The best part about this has been the people,” Wayne said. “The kids who have come in and how they have met each other, befriended each other, are comfortable with each other and have continued relationships outside of this in such a short period of time.”
Young adults like Justin are gaining vocational experience in their designated stations, like folding, sorting, sweeping, packaging, and even utilizing social media to spread the word of their pop-up storefront.
“They want to be here,” Wayne added of her employees. “We had an original schedule and they come so much more often than what the original schedule says. My son wants to be here all day long.”
Each piece of apparel showcases the “Drip” logo in different designs and colors.
And while the word’s origin may be disputed, the meaning of “drip” in today’s vernacular means to be cool and stylish, said Wayne, who has prior experience working in the Garment District in New York City.
“We’re saying that the young adults working here are cool, hip, stylish, and fashionable,” Wayne said. “And they are exceptional. The things that they are able to do are often more exceptional than what typical people are able to do. So we just want it known that they’re like everyone else, if not even more talented in areas.”
With the holiday season winding down, the business plans to explore online sales and connecting with retailers in Connecticut and surrounding states.
More vocational and life skills would be gained with work behind the scenes, Wayne says, with the hope to connect with small boutiques and big businesses to grow.
“There’s a big vision, we just need to push the plan.”
The pop-up store is located in the Southbury Green Plaza, at 775 Main Street South.
Visit www.dripability.com for more information.
The Southbury Record 