Case Study: Custom Christmas Sweaters for Bravo

About Bravo

Bravo is an American cable television network owned by NBCUniversal (a subsidiary of Comcast). It's best known for reality TV, pop culture programming, and a strong focus on fashion, celebrity lifestyles, and drama-filled series.

📺 What Is Bravo Known For?

Bravo started in 1980 as a channel focused on fine arts and film, but in the early 2000s, it shifted to reality entertainment—and struck gold.

🌟 Signature Shows:

The Real Housewives franchise (Beverly Hills, Atlanta, New Jersey, etc.)

Below Deck and its spin-offs (luxury yacht crew drama)

Top Chef (culinary competition)

Project Runway (fashion design competition; now aired elsewhere but closely tied to Bravo's legacy)

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen – a late-night pop culture talk show

One of their most popular shows is The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City and Bravo wanted to create a Christmas sweater for fans of the show. The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City (RHOSLC) is a reality TV series on Bravo that follows a group of affluent women living in Salt Lake City, Utah, as they navigate friendships, business ventures, family life, and dramatic social dynamics—all with the backdrop of Utah’s unique religious and cultural landscape.

Unlike other Real Housewives series, RHOSLC adds an extra layer of intrigue by spotlighting:

Religion and culture, particularly the influence of Mormonism in Utah

Women who are former or non-traditional members of the LDS Church, offering perspectives rarely seen on TV

A colder, snowy setting that contrasts with the sunny glitz of other cities in the franchise

The Project

The phrase "I deserve presents just for breathing" originates from Lisa Barlow, a cast member of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City (RHOSLC). Known for her sharp wit and memorable one-liners, Lisa delivered this line during the show's second season, encapsulating her unapologetic confidence and flair for dramatic humor. The quote quickly resonated with fans and became a viral catchphrase, symbolizing a tongue-in-cheek attitude of self-worth and entitlement. Its popularity led to a surge in themed merchandise, including mugs, ornaments, and apparel, often featuring Lisa's likeness or stylized text of the quote. For instance, products like the "I Deserve Presents Just For Breathing" mug have become popular gifts among Bravo enthusiasts. Bravo wanted to create a Christmas sweater with that phrase to add to their swag collection.

The Making of the Sweater

As the most important part of this sweater was the phrase “I Deserve Presents Just for Breathing”, that phrase was put on the front chest area of the sweater so that it was the main talking point. The sweater was fully custom. The yarn was custom made and the design knitted in. All of the icons such as the wine glasses and bravo logos were all knitted too. The sweater had custom labels to match the entire swag collection.