At an early age, Dakota Achin was taught a paramount life lesson that ultimately shaped his own personal philosophy - and his future.
“When I was younger, my grandfather would always remind me that if you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life. And that’s something that has really resonated with me and really developed more meaning over the years as I’ve thought more about it.”
Following his first year of college, the then 19-year-old Achin found the time passing by him at a blistering pace and quickly discovered how easy it was to succumb to the pressures that come with the working world. For a long time, the Cohasset High School alum knew that he was not willing to compromise his happiness for a paycheck. So when the opportunity presented itself, Achin knew he had to pursue his passion.
Achin began making t-shirts after his freshman year of college in 2015, starting with hand-me-down clothing and one-step kits as he attempted to master the craft. Now a senior at the University of Vermont, Achin has expanded his brand “Unlocked Lifestyle” father than he had originally imagined. In addition to selling his product on campus, Achin now sells his product online as well as at the Cohasset Farmers Market held weekly on the Common.
Like most successful brands, “Unlocked Lifestyle” is centered on a general theme typically personified though some sort of logo or imagery. The keyhole, the brand’s signature design, embodies Achin’s personal philosophy regarding the pursuit of life-long happiness. Achin said he always gravitated toward the design as it represented the idea that “anyone can unlock happiness and the peace of mind that has been inside you all along.”
Staying organized was one of the original roadblocks Achin faced as he began to grow his business. Finding a balance between his education and his business, which is now his main source of income, also proved to be a challenge for him as he pursues prosperity. Yet one of Achin’s biggest goals all along has been to encourage people to find their happiness and explore their own personal pleasures.
“I really wanted to pick a career and a lifestyle that I love and that allows me to encourage others to do what they love as well,” he said.
Achin has sold his unique clothing line to all walks of life from coast to coast. The young entrepreneur took his products along for a cross-country road trip in 2016, peddling them as far as the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone Park on his journey. Now in his third year of business, the 21-year-old has his sights set on the future of “Unlocked Lifestyle”.
Achin recently completed one of his biggest orders to date, customizing shirts for a band based in Burlington, VT known as Two Percent. The senior at the University of Vermont plans to bring his business to more farmer’s markets and festivals in the future and hopes to extend his brand into local stores and retailers. Achin shows no signs of slowing down any time soon.
“I’m really just getting started,” he said.
