The Nova Scotia man behind the popular East Coast Lifestyle brand is in Washington meeting with President Barack Obama after placing second in a global competition.

Alex MacLean's venture began two years ago as a university project and has grown into a successful brand, which is represented coast to coast.

“It is extremely popular,” says MacLean. “This whole idea of representing where you are from and being proud of where you are from.”

His business got its start when he borrowed a few hundred dollars from his dad and made 30 sweatshirts to sell to his friends, who wanted more. MacLean has since sold his apparel in stores across Canada, marketed online, catching the attention of some stars.

“You have singer Ed Sheeran, he's got pictures of him wearing it, we had Ghostface Killah from Wu-Tang Clan, a rap group, he came in and did an autograph signing back in the fall and he's a huge supporter of it."

MacLean has also outfitted local NHL hockey players - Nathan MacKinnon literally gave Sidney Crosby the shirt off his back to wear.

Monday marked the 23-year-old's university graduation day. However, instead of walking across the stage at Acadia University with his peers, he was in Washington meeting President Barack Obama.

“It feels surreal to be here all the way from Nova Scotia,” says MacLean.

In April, MacLean beat 2,000 other students to take second place at the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards in Washington, D.C. As a result, he was invited to attend an event at the White House and was the only Canadian to meet the stars of the television show Shark Tank, as well as the president.

“From the beginning he wanted it to be big, he was confident with how much he wanted this to succeed,” says MacLean’s father, Gord.

MacLean is always looking for the next opportunity and wants to make his East Coast brand available worldwide, so naturally he brought a piece of home to Washington for Obama.

“I brought a hoodie for him, custom made,” says MacLean. “Hopefully he'll hold it up for a picture, just cool to get to meet him, to shake his hand.”

With files from CTV Atlantic's Kelland Sundahl