Fitness Journey Leads to Christ-Based Clothing Brand

Josh Rabourn, a freshman majoring in exercise science is founding a business based on his inspiration from a lifelong journey with fitness. What started as a personal struggle has become Desirable and Defeated, a brand that reflects physical and spiritual strength. 

He said the inspiration for his brand came from a turning point in his own life where he went through a big shift.

“I was 300 pounds when I was a freshman in high school and I started to get lean and get into the gym and stuff,” Rabourn said.

Relationships and connections in his life had sparked new ideas for him.

“My mom actually makes clothes now, and I think that’s kind of how I got into it,” Rabourn said. “Nobody knows my designs yet, but they help me, like saying there’s a cross here and I have a shirt design that the Lord is actually carrying the cross.”

He explained what led him to give into this idea and start this business in college seriously… 

“I got the job as a personal trainer at Colaw Fitness and it’s the next step in the journey that I have to actually start the clothing brand,” Rabourn said.

He detailed how his business means more than just a clothing brand. His vision for his brand is to connect with people beyond working out. 

“The brand name Desirable and Defeated symbolizes potential purpose and strength and it’s not just in the gym to become stronger physically, but it’s to become stronger mentally as well,” Rabourn said.

He explained how he designed the brand to include the mental struggles behind gym culture.

“The defeated part represents the battle behind the scenes,” Rabourn said. “Getting

stronger in the gym doesn’t always take, you know, lifting a weight; it includes the mental battles and sad parts, saying you have family problems, but you still show up.”

He explained his desire for his brand to be showcased in bigger displays in both the fashion and gym worlds.

“I want to be at places where they host events like meet and greets for clothing brands and if you’re huge in the fitness industry,” Rabourn said. “I want to be going to places like that and showcase my brand, saying, hey I started from nothing and I made it here so anybody can do it.”

He concluded by focusing on expanding the reach of his clothing brand and making them more accessible.

“Website is going to be posted in January going into early February. The instagram page for my brand is @desirable_and_defeated,” Rabourn said.
Rabourn said he plans to keep developing Desirable and Defeated as he works on new designs and builds a presence in the fitness community. The brand’s Instagram page will share updates as he prepares for the website to go live in early 2026.