About Us
The Brand Story
Founder and CEO, Taffy Cunningham, was inspired to start Secure Cultures after the tragic loss of her younger brother in 2001 to gun violence. Circumstances surrounding his passing, along with her presence at the scene, landed her in the Illinois Department of Corrections under a 20 year sentence, with a mandatory 18 years to serve.
While in prison she successfully wrote an appeal and was released from custody in 2014 after serving ten years. It was during her time in prison that she decided to take back control of her narrative and bring purpose and meaning to the memory of her beloved sibling. She spent much of her time educating herself on business and finance, and remained focused on her goals and aspirations.
For the first two years after her release from custody she put in countless hours and many long nights teaching herself the skill of graphic design and apparel customization, all while scraping up every dollar she could by working odd jobs. On August 1, 2016 she launched Secure Cultures out of a one car garage, with a heat press, a laptop, a cutter, and a few rolls of vinyl.
Today, Secure Cultures is headquartered in a 900 sqft facility, with multiple heat presses, commercial machinery, and a photography studio. In just a few short years Taffy has expanded the brand into producing custom embroidery and Direct to Film printing. In 2017, she started a graphic design and apparel printing company, Graphics By Taffy, that serves as the inhouse manufacturing department for Secure Cultures, that also offers custom clothing and graphics for brands, businesses, and organizations. Taffy has built a following that reaches all across the country and has even had some International recognition. She hopes to continue to use her story to inspire people to finding their purpose in life and believing in that purpose no matter the odds. In the darkness Taffy found her light. Although Secure Cultures was created from a place of deep pain, regret, and loss, it is just as much a brand created from a place of strength, undying love, and an unwavering belief in one's self.