David Shepard credits late biological sciences professor Takashi Ueda with having a profound influence on his life before, during and after Shepard’s time as a Florida Gulf Coast University student. As an homage, the 2013 graduate has memorialized that impact artistically and tangibly in a manner that will benefit Florida-based environmental organizations dedicated to protecting and restoring the state’s native ecosystems.
The Fort Myers native is the founder and creative force behind Honolulu-based David Shepard Hawaii. The 6-year-old company sells men’s and women’s apparel and tote bags, all featuring his hand-drawn fabric art depicting the archipelago’s native flora and fauna.
Earlier this year, Shepard introduced an extension of this collection, David Shepard Florida, highlighting this state’s unique ecology and native plants and animals. As with his Hawaiian-themed apparel, a portion of proceeds from the sales of select products from this new collection will be donated to Sunshine State conservation groups.
The roots of artistic inspiration
Inspiration for the Florida collection came when Shepard returned to Fort Myers in September 2024 to attend Ueda’s memorial service. The professor and his wife and fellow biology instructor and researcher, Marilyn Cruz-Alvarez, had served as mentors and friends during Shepard’s high school and undergraduate years. They first met when one of Shepard’s high school teachers suggested the sophomore seek the couple’s assistance with a science fair project.
“He and his wife were doing work on plant genetics. I was looking at plant breeding and growing plants in my garden and how I could do a project where I learned something about genetically improving them,” recalled Shepard. “He ended up taking me on in his lab, so I did a project with them. And actually, thanks to that project, I competed in the International Science Fair and won a full scholarship to FGCU. I kept doing that research throughout my high school summers and then into college.”
That marked the start of a relationship that grew progressively closer as Shepard’s academic career unfolded at FGCU, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in biology.
“I just always felt like he was a very much a father-figure mentor to me. We always kept in touch over the years.”
Cruz-Alvarez recalled Shepard’s excitement about science and conducting research.
“Tak really enjoyed having David work with him in the lab,” she said. “Passing the love for science to students was Tak’s favorite part of his job. Mentoring David and seeing him grow into such a talented and nice young man was a joy for both of us.”
From horticulturalist to clothing designer
The trio last got together in 2018, when Shepard was visiting Florida after moving to Honolulu, where he earned a graduate degree in horticulture science from the University of Hawaii at Manoa in 2015. At that time, David Shepard Hawaii was in its embryonic stages and a topic of conversation during their meeting.
“He told me, ‘Oh, one day I’m going to retire, and then maybe I can help you out with your clothing business,’” said Shepard. “‘You’ve always had a mind for business. You’re always talking about ways to sell things and you know about all of that.’ Part of me just thought, ‘There’s plenty of time. One day, we’ll reconnect.’ And then I got the news, and it was really surprising. I didn’t think it would happen that way, but that’s kind of how life is. You forget that we don’t always have as much time as we think we have.”
Shepard’s journey from horticulturalist to clothing designer began post grad-school, after several internships in horticulture and a stint teaching English at a Buddhist monastery in Myanmar. While there, the lifelong drawing enthusiast began pondering how to combine that interest with inspiration he’d drawn from Hawaiian artists using fabric design to create clothing, with a goal of benefiting environmental conservation.
That led to the creation of David Shepard Hawaii in 2019. From its start as a one-person operation selling men’s shirts and tote bags, the company has grown dramatically in terms of staff size, product line, physical plant, sales and sales channels.
Supporting conservation through clothing
Since 2020, the company has donated more than $40,000 to conservation-focused organizations and causes.
They include the University of Hawaii Pacific Region Aquaculture and Coastal Resource Hub, the university’s Summer Marine Mammal Intensive Learning Experience for high school students, and the ‘Alalā Project, which seeks to restore the native crow’s population through a captive breeding program.
He hasn’t established formal Southwest Florida partnerships yet. However, Shepard said he will be making donations in the company’s name to the Naples Botanical Garden.
Such partnerships are one of the keys to launching and maintaining a successful business, he said, along with ensuring market awareness and adaptability, focusing on moving forward and possessing a strong work ethic.
“With business, it’s like you never stop,” he said. “Yes, it’s important to find a little work-life balance, but there’s a lot of drive involved. You have to be consistent.”