It started as a reminder to call home every Friday, but it’s grown into a movement. One that, through clothing and apparel, inspires compassion, connects communities and encourages meaningful conversations.
From a Call to a Cause
Friday Calls is a New Jersey-based clothing brand that focuses on advocacy and community outreach. It was founded by basketball coach and local leader Joseph Hohn. The name comes from Hohn’s personal ritual of reaching out to his family every Friday–no matter the circumstance—to say “I love you.”
It’s a habit he formed during his coaching years. Hohn saw firsthand just how easy it was for people to lose touch in their daily lives. The Friday calls became a reminder to slow down and to appreciate the relationships you’ve got.
He would soon find that this was an idea that resonated with people—that’s when he made it a mission to do something more.
Hohn started Friday Calls to spread his outlook. Each hoodie, crewneck and t-shirt carries simple words of encouragement: reminders to take a breath, reach out, connect and care. It quickly resonated with others and grew from a personal project into a community-driven brand. With a creative eye and purpose-driven storytelling, Hohn built a brand where apparel and advocacy blend together.
Enter Grace Cannon. A former basketball player under Hohn, the two have stayed connected throughout the years. With her background in marketing and branding, Hohn saw an opportunity for Friday Calls to enter a new light.
Together, they combined Hohn’s important message with Cannot’s strategic creativity. The result is a brand that exists outside the typical confines. Friday Calls is in its own lane, with its own vision and goal.
Stories Worth Wearing
Through the “Stories Worth Wearing” collection, Friday Calls is extending its mission beyond fashion. The groundbreaking line partners with local organizations and advocates to highlight causes worth fighting for, including domestic violence awareness, disability inclusion and mental health advocacy.
The goal through each collaboration is to remind people that compassion never goes out of style—its importance never fades.
Recent initiatives support community members facing medical hardships. For example, 100% of proceeds from the Storms Don’t Last Forever tee go towards supporting Ann Jones, a community member battling cancer.
The apparel is colorful and plastered with simple phrases meant to inspire conversation. Each shirt, hoodie and crewneck is intentional—encouraging wearers to connect through shared stories and acts of empathy.
Supporting Small Businesses and Local Creators
Collaborations are central to Friday Calls’ ethos. The brand’s new Small Business Boxes initiative looks to spotlight local creators, shops and changemakers across the Garden State. Each curated box features items from local creators and businesses that give back to their communities, alongside Friday Calls apparel, of course.
You can shop Friday Calls in person on Saturday, October 11, from 12 to 6 p.m. at the Bloomfield Harvest Festival. The brand will be debuting its 2.0 collection, showcasing a new line of fresh designs and exclusive, advocacy-focused pieces.
You can also shop Friday Calls at their online shop.
A Small Team, A Big Mission
Behind Friday Calls is a small but dedicated team: Joseph Hohn, founder and printer; Grace Cannon, marketing and social lead; and Gabrielle Aliotta, part of the marketing and social team. Together, they manage everything from printing to partnerships, embodying the same values of connection and care that the brand promotes.
A Call to Connect
As Friday Calls continues to grow as a brand, the message remains the same. For founder Joseph Hohn, connection, compassion and community always come first.
Weekly calls to loved ones have turned into a brand focused on spreading awareness and empathy through thoughtful designs and slogans. Friday Calls invites people everywhere to wear their stories proudly.
They pose one simple question to you: What day is your Friday?
Peter Candia is the Food + Drink Editor at New Jersey Digest. A graduate of The Culinary Institute of America, Peter found a passion for writing midway through school and never looked back. He is a former line cook, server and bartender at top-rated restaurants in the tri-state area. In addition to food, Peter enjoys politics, music, sports and anything New Jersey.
