October may be over, but Able Made will continue to donate proceeds from each pair of Fashion Targets Breast Cancer custom socks to FTBC while supplies last. CFDA.com sat down with Able Made founder Suzanne McKenzie to discuss two of CFDA’s favorite topics: fashion and philanthropy. Shop the collection here.
CFDA.com: Why was Able Made founded? How does it support charitable initiatives?
Suzanne McKenzie: “Able Made was founded after I lost my husband in 2009 of sudden cardiac arrest when he was playing the game he loved most, soccer. I lost my best friend. During the most difficult challenge of my life, design lifted me through this dark period with the light of hope and inspiration. It was at this time, I knew I had to start a conversation through design to help others.
The design community rallied around me and contributed to a poster calendar I designed to spotlight soccer. The calendar led me to create an athletic line with the proceeds going toward the establishment of a foundation to honor my late husband, Ucal Mckenzie. As a soccer coach, Ucal used the sport to teach valuable life lessons to children. Now going into its seventh year, the Ucal McKenzie Breakaway Foundation partners with leading companies such as Whole Foods, CrossFit, Major League Soccer (MLS), Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS), America Scores, and other top organizations to bring soccer and life-changing health information to disadvantaged city youth.
The proceeds from Able Made support the foundation and inspire the fashion community to support causes they care deeply about. We’ve worked with leading designers such as Public School, Pamela Love, Loomstate, Melissa Joy Manning and more in the CFDA community to raise awareness for great causes and funding to support the Breakaway Foundation, Pencils of Promise, VH1 Save the Music Foundation, CFDA Foundation, EarthWorks, and more.”
CFDA.com: How do you see fashion and philanthropy intersecting?
S.M.: “I believe design has the ability to create lasting, positive change though empowerment. Able Made combines bold design, responsible manufacturing, and a giving back business model. Each product tells a story. People want to look good and feel good, and if you can connect with them through something bold that gets consumers’ attention, they will be open to the story you want to share with them.”
CFDA.com: Why is Fashion Targets Breast Cancer important to you and your customers?
S.M.: “We ask our customers to share the causes that are closest to their hearts, and breast cancer research is one of the top causes they selected. The statistics are alarming. About one in eight U.S. women will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime. It is likely that you may know someone who has been effected. My great grandmother and both of my grandmothers are breast cancer survivors. A few years ago, my community lost our close friend Barbara to genetic positive BRAC1 triple negative breast cancer–she was only 32. Often, in those situations, you can feel helpless. I want to empower our community–people who have been diagnosed, survivors, families and friends–and give them a way to stay positive and to help.”
CFDA.com: How will you continue to create awareness for charitable initiatives?
S.M.: “We are excited to be launching our first Able Made collection soon that will support healthy and active lifestyles by providing soccer and health education to city youth. We look forward to designing special projects for nonprofits and engaging the fashion community in partnership projects.”
To learn more about Able Made, go to AbleMadeShop.com.
