In a small second-bedroom studio in Arlington, Texas, custom T-shirts, hoodies, and apparel take shape — all made by hand, with heart, by Cory Singer. By day, Singer is a math teacher and coach at Boles Junior High. By night (and weekends), he’s the creative force behind ArlingTees Designs, a business he never set out to start, but now can’t imagine his life without.
“It kind of just happened,” Singer laughs.
What began as a hobby making personalized gifts for friends and family quietly turned into a thriving side business as word spread. People started requesting custom designs for birthdays, school events, and reunions. A student even came up with the name ArlingTees Designs, and it stuck.
Rooted in Resilience and Relationships
Singer’s story isn’t a straight line. Born in Houston and raised in Pearland, he moved to the Dallas-Fort Worth area in 1998 to attend the University of North Texas. Drawn to numbers and problem-solving, he majored in Finance because, as he puts it, “I was good at math in high school.”
By his junior year, Singer realized he didn’t truly enjoy Finance — but financially, switching majors wasn’t an option. So, he pushed through, earned his degree, and entered the workforce. After graduation, he landed a job in IT recruiting in Dallas. But in 2008, the economic collapse changed everything.
“Getting laid off ended up being a blessing in disguise,” Singer recalls.
It was the turning point he needed — one that gave him the freedom and courage to chase what he really loved: teaching and coaching.
“I always respected my coaches growing up,” he says. “I saw how they built a winning culture and changed lives, not just seasons. I wanted to be a part of that.”
