Fuquay-Varina High School students Samantha Abreu, Kelsey Knight, Bryce Finch, Tonyqua Russell and Tiffany McIver show their support for Orange Crush, Above Fashions Owner Juanita Lee and owner of the recently closed Fuquay Sports Shop Lorraine Dotson.
When Fuquay Sports Shop closed at the end of February, Fuquay-Varina High School students feared it was the end of the Orange Crush t-shirts so loved by the Bengals.
But Orange Crush fans can rest easy. The Fuquay Sports Shop’s heat press was sold to Juanita Lee at Above Fashions on March 11.
Lee said she was looking to offer another custom item in her shop and always wanted a heat press. The timing wasn’t right until now.
Fuquay Sports Shop Owner Lorraine Dotson said she was approached about the heat press business several times, but she was looking for the right individual to take over the local icon.
“I felt like Juanita was a good fit,” Dotson said.
Above Fashions already works with the high school students, monogramming apparel. She also has a senior at FVHS, D.J. Lee.
With about 10 different shirt colors and endless combinations with lettering, Dotson said she sold at least 6,000 in the six years since the Orange Crush phenomenon began.
In one week, she sold more than 550 shirts when the students decided to have a “pink out” at a sporting event.
Lee already has new ideas on how to expand on the color combinations. She hopes to introduce glitter and zebra print into the mix.
“I love creating,” she said. “That is my biggest thing.”
Lee even has begun using the heat press for monogramming.
She said she plans to use the same price point for the Orange Crush t-shirts. She will add a small amount to shirts with glitter, hologram or foil lettering.
Dotson hopes word will spread fast about the business transition and Lee’s new adventure.
“This [Above Fashions] is where you get the original Orange Crush,” Dotson said. “It’s Orange Crush Central.”
“I’m excited,” Lee said, “nervous, but excited.”
Above Fashions is located at 706 North Main St. For more information, call 919-371-8554 or visit www.abovefashions.com.
Contact Kelly Griffith at kgriffith@civitasmedia.com or 919-552-5675.
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