About Ursus Atelier
The Story of Ursus Atelier
Ursus Atelier translates to Bear Workshop — Ursus from Latin, Atelier from French. The name clicked instantly, but it’s more than just words. It ties back to one of my favorite childhood memories.
When I was about six, we lived in a big blue house in the middle of nowhere in upstate New York. It had a wraparound porch, a wide lawn, and a little crab apple tree right in the center. One afternoon, as my mom, brother, and I looked out the giant windows, a black bear wandered out of the woods. It plopped onto its back under the crab apple tree and
spent nearly twenty minutes happily munching on fallen apples before wandering off again — completely unbothered, living its best life.
For a kid, it was pure magic. That moment stuck with me — a symbol of curiosity, strength, and presence.
So, when it came time to name my brand, Ursus Atelier felt like the perfect fit. It carries a little piece of that memory, a reminder to create with wonder and to embrace the wild along the way.
About My Designs
Every design you see here starts with a spark — a sketch, a memory, or a half-crazy idea that somehow turns into something wearable. No copy-paste templates, no mass-produced nonsense — just genuine, one-of-a-kind art you can throw on in the morning.
I’m also committed to keeping things kind to the planet. That’s why every piece is made using organic fabrics and responsible materials. Good for your skin, better for the world, and built to last.
And because I believe creativity should give back, a portion of every sale goes toward One Tree Planted — helping reforest the planet, one shirt at a time. For more information on the one tree planted organization, check out there website at onetreeplanted.org
At the end of the day, my goal is simple: create designs that feel personal, look great, and make you smile — all while doing right by the planet.
About The Designer
Hey there, I’m Tim Hopewell — professional daydreamer, accidental DIY fashion icon, and lifelong t-shirt tinkerer.
My obsession started back in middle school with a screen-printing course at summer camp. By high school, I was hand-painting my own shirts, which pretty much cemented my reputation as that goofy kid who wore weird clothes to class. Popular? Not exactly. Memorable? Definitely.
The upside? I managed to get my shirts into a local gift shop, and every now and then I’d spot a stranger actually wearing one. Nothing boosts a teenager’s ego quite like that.
Life, of course, had other plans. My “t-shirt empire” went on pause while I traveled, moved across the world, got married, and became a dad. All amazing things — but that creative itch never really went away.
I’m a big believer in challenging myself (sometimes too much for my own good), and after hitting a “what’s next?” wall recently, I realized the answer was already waiting for me. I missed bringing ideas to life on fabric. I missed the joy of seeing someone else wear my vision.
So here we are: a fresh start, one shirt at a time. Welcome to my little corner of the internet — hope you find something here that makes you smile, stand out, or maybe even feel like that goofy kid in school (in the best way possible).