Boston-based LiveProud Founders Tepfer and Bogoian Nominated for VISIONary of the Year Award

Feb. 17, 2011 - PRLog -- Boston-based entrepreneurs Phil Tepfer and Charles Bogoian have been nominated as finalists in the first-ever VISIONary of the Year Awards, unveiled today by Sunnyvale, CA-based semiconductor design innovator AMD (www.amd.com/visionary).  The VISIONary of the Year Awards recognize nine unsung heroes in three categories (Food, Photography and Entrepreneurship) to be voted upon from February 15 to April 30, with the top vote recipient in each category announced in July.    Tepfer and Bogoian caught AMD’s attention through their environmentally-conscious active wear company LiveProud, which manufactures hiking, sailing and yoga clothing made entirely from recycled and reclaimed materials.

“We're incredibly excited to be part of AMD's VISIONary of the Year Awards,” says Tepfer. “Simply to be nominated is recognition that what we're doing truly is making a difference."

In keeping with the award’s “reverse contest” concept, aspirants were not able to enter, but instead were hand-selected for their unique contributions and informed of their finalist status by a surprise phone call.  AMD scoured the U.S. for the nominees, building a pool of potential VISIONaries that demonstrate the same drive and excellence AMD values.  AMD has awarded cash and merchandise equal to $2,500 to the nine finalists, while winners in each category will all receive $20,000.

Quips Bogoian, “I think now our moms will finally believe us that we’re doing more than just selling t-shirts.”

In addition, eligible voters can enter to win one-of-a-kind category prizes as well as one $10,000 grand prize. For more information about AMD and its innovative VISION technology, visit www.amd.com/visionary.


About Phil Tepfer & Charles Bogoian

In their senior year at Babson College, suitemates Phil Tepfer and Charles Bogoian hatched an idea that combined a love of sailing with a concern for the environment: a clothing line created from recycled plastic bottles and other waste.  

Borrowing $25,000 from friends and family, Tepfer and Bogoian launched SailProud, a clothing line of moisture-wicking T-shirts and rash guards to protect sailors from chafing. SailProud evolved into just one product in the larger LiveProud brand, complemented by outdoor gear for hikers called TrekProud and yoga clothes under the moniker BeProud.

LiveProud uses fabric created from recycled plastic bottles and other waste such as cornhusks and coconut shells to create a line of activewear that encompasses 25 styles of T-shirts, jackets, and polo shirts.  Operating on low inventory, LiveProud fulfills orders on a per-order basis, shipping their products using only recycled packaging.   Even the boxes themselves are reused from product and manufacturer discards received in their warehouse.

By Tepfer’s estimate, each LiveProud shirt saves about 5.5 pounds of carbon emissions. Their commitment translates to energy conservation, CO2 emissions reduction and a vital contribution towards saving our planet’s fragile natural eco-systems.