Our Sweet Story

Our "Sweet Memories Vintage Tee" designs are created and designed exclusively by small-town; woman-owned business, founded in Youngstown, OH in 2020.

Linda Barton, Founder & CEO

Hi, I'm Linda Barton, founder of Sweet Memories Vintage Tees!

What started as one phone call back in 2020 to get licensing for Good Humor Ice Cream to celebrate their 100 year anniversary with an apparel line, has grown into a business and passion that continues to thrive.

It all started with Good Humor Ice Cream

Barton heard that "Good Humor™ Ice Cream" was celebrating their 100 Year Anniversary in Youngstown and thought it would be cool to design a novelty t-shirt for the iconic historical event. She stretched beyond her comfort zone and reached out to her team to get the rights and licensing to produce a limited edition vintage inspired apparel line. In her research she found out so many fun facts:

• Good Humor was founded in Youngstown, Ohio in 1920
• GH™ INVENTED Ice Cream on a Stick!
• The 1st Ice Cream Trucks in America came from Youngstown, OH

She was shocked that this was not common knowledge. In an effort to create community awareness Barton contacted The Local Children's Hospital. She figured Kids & Ice Cream went well together. Good Humor sent her 2 pallets of ice cream to give to the staff and kids. It was there she featured the apparel line for the 1st time.

Barton felt inspired to give back to the community, picking Akron Children’s Hospital that saved her daughter’s life when she was young. To honor this, Sweet Memories Vintage Tees support Akron Children's Hospital by donating 20% of each shirt sold to the NICU Clinic. Our community engagement is essential to our overall approach of the sustainability in organizations that focus on improving the quality of life. 

As of Q2 2024, SMVT has helped raise over $75,900.11 .for local charities, such as Akron Children's NICU, U.S. Military Morale & Recreation Programs, Meals on Wheels Mahoning Valley, Trumbull County Mobile Meals, Franciscan Friars, & the National Packard Museum of Warren, OH.

Since the inception of just a "One Time Novelty Tee" there has been a firehose of clients that wanted to participate in our cause. And that is how "Sweet Memories Vintage Tees" was founded. 
The SMVT designs are created exclusively using the archives and assets of our licensed brands and created by our design team. That design team is made up of Linda Barton Owner and CEO and our graphic designer, Abbey Hennessey, alumni of Youngstown State University.

All of SMVT’s apparel is designed and screen-printed locally at Barton’s business, New Dawn Design in Liberty Township, Ohio. 

We Are Always Growing!

Since the launch of our officially licensed Good Humor™ tees, Sweet Memories Vintage Tees has expanded to an apparel line with the iconic brands such as– Popsicle®, Tootsie Roll Brands, PEZ®, Spangler Candy Co, Necco®, Smarties®, Sweethearts®, Dum Dums® and so many more to come!

In 2022, we've gained amazing licensed partnerships to create collections for the U.S. Army®, America's Navy®, and Packard Car & Electric!

In 2023 – Klondike®, Breyers® Ice Cream, U.S. Air Force®, U.S. Space Force®, Isaly's®, Airheads®, Peeps®, Mike & Ike®, Hot Tamales®, Gerrit J Verburg Co, and Goezte's Candy Co®, joined our licensed brands!

Brand NEW Partnerships for 2024 include– Atkinson's Candy Co, Boyers®, Choward's Fine Mints & Gum, Chupa Chups®, Melody Pop, Conagra Brands, Vlasic® Pickles, DAVID® Seeds, Swiss Miss®, Jiffy Pop®, Mentos®, Push Pop®, Juicy Drop®, & Ring Pop®