WORDS / KODY FORD

For Wilson and Beth Allison, the middle-class suburban life had taken its toll.  He spent his time on the road, traveling for work, while she worked a full-time job and raised their kids. It worked for a while, but as they slowly drifted apart, they were left with a choice—to adapt or to stay the same until they just couldn’t take it anymore.

So they adapted.

They went all in for the Paleodiet, began exercising vigorously and in 2012 started their own business, Cave Cloth, which is now located at a shopping center at the intersection of Township St. and Gregg Avenue in Fayetteville.

With the slogan, “Simple Life. Soft Threads,” the shop specializes in environmentally friendly screen-printing and tee shirts that celebrate the arts, the outdoors, sustainability and more. All of the garments are printed by hand with no automated processes. Every aspect of the business, from graphic design to final product, is completed in their shop. Nothing is outsourced and every tee is unique. Along with selling their own designs, they screen-print for individuals and businesses.

Every business has an origin story and shortly after their radical lifestyle change, Wilson had an idea. He wanted lifestyle t-shirts to support their primal eating habits and lifestyle. Unable to find anything he liked, he began to research screen-printing. Soon, he put himself through screen-printing school and had an eight-station press in their garage.

Now that they have moved into their own shop, they have big plans that Beth feels will fit in well with the unique culture of northwest Arkansas.

“It’s a unique experience, and one we hope will one day become a Fayetteville institution,” Beth says. “Where else can you walk in, see a design you like, and watch your shirt be printed. Wilson will even walk you through the entire process. We don’t want to go global. We just want to support ourselves, our community, help the small business culture of Fayetteville to continue to thrive.”

VISIT: cavecloth.com/pages/our-story

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