When you buy apparel from LSA freshman Sam Kelman’s clothing line, you’ll not only look good, you’ll help others feel good, too.
- Christina Choi
- Sam Kelman mixes fashion and charity. (SHAY SPANIOLA/Daily)
Through sales of T-shirts and similar wardrobe staples from her Save Our Women clothing line, Kelman has raised more than $60,000 for breast cancer awareness. Her main recipient is the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, which receives net profits from all American sales. As the shirts are also sold in Canada, net profits from Canadian sales are donated to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.
Kelman said that what started out as a small T-shirt fundraiser evolved into a farther-reaching, philanthropic business. She created her company almost three years ago after she participated in the Susan G. Koman Breast cancer walk in New York City. The walk serves as a tribute to the women lost to breast cancer and to honor survivors, and at the same time it spreads awareness and raises money; for Kelman, it was especially significant as her grandmother had passed away from breast cancer.
Since then, Kelman has partnered with sales representatives at numerous American colleges, such as McGill University student Mara Sofferin.
Kelman’s collection starts with American Apparel-made long-sleeved thermals, V-neck T-shirts, tank tops and zip-up sweatshirts. Each piece is printed with the retro-style “Save Our Women” logo – featuring a pink ribbon in place of the “A” in “save” – on both front and back. Although most of the shirts are in neutrals like grey, black or white, Kelman is adding new colors for the spring line.
Shirts start at about $20, and zip-ups are $45. To order merchandise, visit www.saveourwomenshirts.com.