by Gus C. Baxter

“Every time I make a sweatshirt, I think of my dad. It’s been very healing and therapeutic.” 

Caldwell’s Marissa Rozenfeld lost her father on October 16th, 2020 due to Covid-19 complications. Three weeks later, her grandfather passed away from Covid-19 complications. Rozenfeld, who has experienced more loss at the age of 24 than most of her peers, found comfort in one of the things she shared with her father: a love of music. 

“That’s when I came across an old cassette tape of my father’s. He was a huge Phil Collins and Peter Gabriel fan. The last song [on the cassette] was ‘Its Gonna Get Better’ in his handwriting. I felt like this was a message from him, telling me that it’s going to get better, keep your head up.”

This message spoke volumes to Rozenfeld. Although she may not have known how, she kept faith that things would get better. As a graphic designer, Rozenfeld explored creative outlets to begin her healing and commemorate the message of her father. She decided to digitize her father’s handwriting. Initially, she thought about a tattoo, but remembering how much her father was against tattoos, she looked for other creative outlets. 

“How else could I use my father’s words and a needle?” Her answer: embroidery! 

In January 2021, Rozenfeld embarked on her creative healing journey through her new Etsy shop. ItsGonnaGetBetter, a fashion collection featuring her father’s digitized handwriting, started with a new embroidery machine, a pile of blank sweatshirts, and the desire to channel her healing through art. In the beginning, Rozenfeld thought some friends or family might buy a sweatshirt to support her healing journey. Six months later, ItsGonnaGetBetter has connected Rozenfeld with a supportive global community of families affected by Covid-19.

“It made me feel like, we’re not alone, there are other families going through it that are grieving and hurting. Even families that didn’t lose a loved one have felt the impact of what covid has done to them.”

With the success of this Etsy shop, Rozenfeld realized how much her father’s memory could help this community. “With each purchase, I donate a portion to the Covid 19 Solidarity Response Fund. This raises covid awareness. Pre-vaccine, this was funding a lot of the vaccine research, not only for the United States, but also globally. I’ve donated over $3000 since I’ve started this project to the Covid 19 Solidarity Response Fund. It’s been amazing.”

Rozenfeld could not have imagined the impact of her work. After connecting with families who have lost loved ones to covid, cancer, and other diseases, Rozenfeld began creating personalized sweatshirts. 

“I utilized my design background and started having people send me their loved ones’ handwriting and I would digitize a signature or a letter their loved one wrote them. I would then embroider their handwriting on the sleeve of the sweatshirt so that they could always look down and see their loved ones handwriting.”

ItsGonnaGetBetter has grown far beyond anything Rozenfeld could have dreamed of in January. She is so honored to be able to support this community and support her own healing at the same time. Moving forward, Rozenfeld wants to share her message with more people across many different communities. 

“I would love to take ItsGonnaGetBetter to a level where I go to other organizations and donate to other non-profits, whether it’s cancer or the LGBTQ+ community. That saying, ‘It’s Gonna Get Better’ brought them alot of comfort. It’s reassuring to know that that saying, my dad’s handwriting, something that has so much deeper meaning for me, is bringing other people comfort in ways I wasn’t even thinking of when I started this project.”

If you want to get involved, Rozenfeld explains that this project is about more than just unique fashion. ItsGonnaGetBetter is about conversation and awareness. Rozenfeld shares her four tips on spreading the message of her project:

“1. Be nice to one another.

2. Be kind to yourself. 
3. Keep in mind your words. When you’re out in public, covid isn’t a joke. Real families are affected. 
4. Start the conversation. Speak up for families and friends who are hurting and grieving.” 

ItsGonnaGetBetter is on Etsy at www.itsgonnagetbetter.etsy.com. There you can find out about what Rozenfeld is offering, how to get in touch with her, and explore the heartwarming comments the community has left on her page. You can also follow her business Instagram at @Shopitsgonnagetbetter.