In eighth grade, Max Nguyen (‘28) decided to submit his design for the class sweatshirt. It was an idea sketched in the margins of his notebooks, until – to his surprise – the lines on paper moved to stitches on fabric that his entire grade had the opportunity to wear. 

“Seeing something I imagined become a shared symbol showed me what design can be when it brings people together,” Max said. He added, “That experience made me want to strive for something bigger. Like something for all of Bishop’s.”

The birth of Max’s brand, Campus Threads, is something that, from the beginning, was meant to stand for more than apparel. Max intentionally structured the business as a non-profit, ensuring that every purchase supports the Bishop’s Scholarship Fund. He explained, “It was a way for me to give back to the school that I am so grateful to attend.” Campus Threads thus transformed from a personal project into a recognizable — and dress code-approved — presence on campus.

“I saw several people wearing his hoodies around campus, and I loved them immediately, so I asked my friend where she got them,” said Phoebe Coppedge (‘30). What began as sample hoodies that Max wore to school quickly gained traction. Compliments turned into questions. Questions turned into orders. So how did Max create Campus Threads?

For Max, drawing and design have always been second nature. “I’ve always been someone who gravitates towards drawing. I find ways to add a touch of myself to ordinary things. ” He laughed, “I’ve honestly always wondered what my math teachers have thought of my doodles next to the homework.” 

When designing a new piece, Max thinks first about the students who will wear it. “It’s hard for us to wear the same khakis, skirts, and plain hoodies to school each day,” he said. His goal is to create apparel that feels authentic to Bishop’s while remaining modern and expressive enough for students to wear beyond campus proudly. 

In his first line of apparel, one hoodie is a sleek black pullover with a gold logo of Bishop’s stitched over the chest, and a gold star graphic embroidered on the back. Another design flips the look: a clean cream hoodie featuring a maroon embroidery reading “Go Knights!” paired with a detailed knight helmet graphic. Each design begins with rough sketches and a creative imagination influenced by current fashion trends. Max explained, “A lot of my inspiration is actually from the streetwear I see when I’m scrolling, or like the streets of LA and Korea.” 

“Presenting the idea to Bishop’s wasn’t just about selling clothing,” he explained. “It was also about taking a blind leap of faith into something I was passionate about.” Max had the opportunity to explain his concept to the Dean of Students, Ms. Michelle Shea. She said, “Max is great, and I was impressed by his designs and by the work he’d invested. I wanted to find a way to validate his efforts.” She clarified, “But, to be clear, I’ve done very little. This is entirely Max’s enterprise. I’ve just provided uniform expectations and approval of the final designs.”

Behind the scenes, his process is meticulous and influenced by guidance from his mother, who has a background in the fashion and clothing industry. “With over 25 years of experience in the industry, I was so excited when Max decided to create a line for Bishop’s,” expressed Max’s mother, Mrs. Jully Nguyen. “It excites me to not only watch him follow in my footsteps, but to transform my experience into a mentorship that fuels his passion.” She added, “I am filled with so much pride and am thrilled to support him every step of the way.”

“She truly has helped me understand how to translate creative ideas into professional, high-quality, wearable products,” Max explained. “My mom has advised me to value and pay close attention to the quality of the apparel Campus Threads uses. So, each piece produced by Campus Threads is curated from the best fabrics — 10oz garment dye with 100% cotton face — threads of embroidery, and overall feel.” 

As a non-profit initiative, the materials — including blank hoodies, embroidery, and packaging — and production costs are privately supported by his family. Max acknowledged, “My biggest challenge I’ve actually faced has been balancing costs and profit margins. It took me a while to figure out the best way to maximize profits that could be donated while still maintaining a high standard in terms of production.” 

Therefore, each item is thoughtfully priced — hoodies cost $65 while crewnecks cost $60 — to cover the expenses while ensuring that all proceeds are directed towards the Scholarship Fund. Alongside his mother, Max searched for and tested manufacturers throughout Los Angeles, California, in order to find a factory that aligned best with the goals and expectations of Campus Threads.

His emphasis on quality reflects both his artistic standards and his respect for the community he’s designing for. Beatrice Wierzinski (‘30) noted that she particularly loves the quality of Campus Threads apparel: “I’ve noticed it has a much thicker feel than other Bishop’s hoodies, and I also really liked that the design is embroidered, which I thought was a great example of Max’s attention to detail. I love the design.” Brooke Donnelly (‘29) agreed, “The quality is great, and it’s clear that a lot of thought and creativity went into these sweatshirts.”

“For me, the highlight is just connecting with people.” Max said, “I mean, nothing compares to what I’ve learned building and running a business, but hand-delivering each hoodie is such a fulfilling experience.” He added, “It’s crazy to have connected with so many middle school students who I, truthfully, would not have met otherwise. Delivering the hoodies to them myself makes it feel so personal.”

Now, Campus Threads continues to evolve — Max is developing new designs, exploring different types of apparel and accessories, and learning how to manage inventory and plan future drops. He hopes that in the future, he may even be able to create apparel for other private schools in San Diego. 

On a campus where identity is often expressed through clubs, teams, and traditions, Campus Threads may add another thread to the fabric that is the Bishop’s community. “I feel that I, too, am growing with the brand,” Max said. “It’s an ongoing process, and that’s what keeps it exciting.”