World As One is the new venture of Jim and Kari Reed.

The company is billed as the home of Yin & Yang clothing and accessories. But its objective is greater than just selling shirts, caps and jewelry.

The company’s theme is “promoting peace, love, unity, equality, teamwork and togetherness … one piece of apparel at a time.”

“The foundation of our brand is to be positive, fun, uplifting and inspirational with a subtle, playful underlying message of unity,” said Kari Reed.

“As a lifestyle brand, we want to be a vehicle for people to express their desire for the world to be a little friendlier, a place with a little more unity and a place where individuals recognize and appreciate people’s shared commonality versus focusing on their differences,” she added.

The World As One website will be ready for orders starting Tuesday. And Tuesday evening there will be a launch party at River Hops Brewing, 1014 Central Ave.

Jim Reed is probably best known for leading Shellabration Inc., the non-profit group that puts on the Shellabration and Fort Dodge Country Jam concerts.

He dabbled in music on a more personal level, releasing a CD in 1998 called “JRJR.” While looking for a way to spruce up the CD’s liner notes, he looked through a book containing various symbols and was struck by the yin and yang symbol. The easily recognized symbol comes from Asian culture, where it symbolizes how opposite but complementary forces come together for the greater good.

He eventually chose the peace symbol for the liner notes. “JRJR” was the extent of his recording career, but the yin and yang image stuck with him.

It took nearly 30 years for him to connect that image with a project that would promote understanding, just as some money from his CD was donated to the Rotary Foundation in support of its efforts to promote world peace.

The image that the Reeds settled on is essentially a pair of yin and yang symbols turned sideways with smiley faces on them.

Neither of the Reeds had any experience in the clothing industry. They started the company anyway.

“It’s referred to in life and in business as a leap of faith,” Jim Reed said.

“We were so green and just had a dream,” Kari Reed added.

Jim Reed said the company was formally established on Oct. 31, 2025.

The shirts will be made by Broken Arrow Wear, of Des Moines. The basement of the Reeds’ home is filled with shirts and other merchandise. They will be packing and shipping orders from there.

World As One will be mostly an online operation, but the Reeds will set up shop at some vendor fairs.

If You Go

What: Launch party for World As One

When: 4 p.m. Tuesday

Where: River Hops Brewing, 1014 Central Ave.