Exhilo is short for Creatio Ex Nihilo: Creation From Nothing

As a young boy, Curtis Ying always reached for the pen tucked away in his mother’s purse. Anything his five-year-old imagination would dream up, he could magically translate into mini masterpieces on restaurant napkins with his mother’s pen. Filled with awe and wonder, Curtis doodled anywhere, so long as his mother remembered to carry her pen.

But his fascination with creation didn’t stop there. Curtis’s mother read Biblical nursery poetry every night, which captured his heart. From very early on, Curtis found inspiration and faith through stories of God’s mysterious and miraculous creation of the universe. From mountains to music, from skyscrapers to sea creatures, Curtis became enamored with how the universe came to be. 

Curtis’s parents immigrated from Hong Kong when they were teenagers, and he was born and raised in the Bay Area. Growing up surrounded by California’s beautiful landscapes and Silicon Valley’s renowned tech industry, Curtis became fascinated by how each was uniquely creative and continues to find inspiration in both. This led him to pursue a degree from San Jose State University (SJSU) in graphic design and photography. Throughout his time at SJSU, he decided to use his gifts and knowledge to not only grow in his craft, but to help others grow as well.

As Curtis expanded his skill set, his imagination and fascination with creation expanded along with him. “There’s a magic and wonder with everything we create,” says now 28-year-old Curtis, creator of the Exhilo clothing brand. Exhilo (pronounced ex-he-low) is a faith-based brand made for creatives, by creatives. Each piece of clothing is “unique and limited edition,” and the brand has “grown to collaborate with artists all around the world.” Curtis explains why he chose a clothing brand. “The symbolism of clothing—it speaks to one’s identity. The images you wear can speak to your values.” Curtis’s values are built on his faith in Jesus, and he desires to represent the Creator through creative expression. “There’s so much beauty in creativity, and self-expression is such a gift.” He is passionate about creativity and blank canvases. His fascination with the creative process from imagination to the final product is what keeps Curtis creating. It’s what inspired him to name his company Exhilo. Exhilo is a condensed word for the Latin phrase creatio ex nihilo, which means “creation from nothing.”

“It’s about Community over competition.”
– Curtis Ying

Beyond creating clothing apparel, Curtis builds up creatives within his community through Exhilo Creative Meetups (ECM). “The initial desire for the creative meetups was for people to study together…but we changed the direction to be a place to inspire, grow, and encourage each other,” Curtis says. He shared how ECM has helped both him and others grow in confidence and help guide one another through their creative journey. Curtis is thankful that ECM provides networking opportunities, which has led to referrals for jobs and collaborative projects. Though the culture of Silicon Valley is exceptionally competitive, Curtis refuses to let that seep into his own. “It’s about community over competition,” he says. It is important to the passionate leaders of ECM that their community is built on creativity, love, and inclusivity.

Outside of ECM, Curtis and his team organize other hangouts such as rock climbing, bowling, or watching anime films. Curtis says, “I love the feedback because people say they feel loved and accepted…and that they can be their natural selves.” Curtis explains that this is how both he and his team can show love for their community while working out their faith. Exhilo may be a brand, but it has expanded beyond T-shirts, hats, and duffle bags—it has become a family. Regardless of faith, experience, or background, Exhilo welcomes anyone and encourages everyone, uniting one another in creativity and purpose.

Over the last several years, Curtis has used both Exhilo’s successes and failures to help other creators within the community. A colossal component to social media culture is burying failures and exalting successes. Curtis, on the other hand, shares both on Instagram. “I had to throw away over 300 license plate frames that I ordered from China…I had spent about a year dreaming and designing, and it all ended up in the trash.” He adds that although it is extremely uncomfortable admitting defeat, sometimes that is where some of the most valuable lessons are learned.

You will find creativity, community, and cohesivity in all of Curtis’s creations. He is constantly searching for ways to grow beyond apparel and relate new forms of creativity to Exhilo. Some of those forms include photography, dance, and music. Although it is challenging to find ways to relate these outlets back to Exhilo, Curtis invites the challenge and relies heavily on his community for feedback and support.

Curtis’s curiosity and creativity cannot be contained. Though now an adult, he is still as full of awe and wonder as he was as a child. He may not doodle on restaurant napkins with his mother’s pen anymore, but he will always be inspired by his faith and the wonder of creation by the Ultimate Creator. 

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