Stephanie Alves, Founder ABL Denim, FOUND/LA Entrepreneur

NAME
Stephanie Alves

LOCATION
ABL Denim

Los Angeles, CA 90064 

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WEBSITE
abldenim.com

YEAR FOUNDED
2013

ABL DENIM

OUR PURPOSE

To provide fashion and function for the largest underserved community in the world. We make adaptive jeans for people with disabilities and children with sensory sensitivity that are easier to dress in and wear more comfortably than regular clothing.

WHY WE DO IT

Everyone wants to dress in clothes they like whether they were injured, are disabled, or have skin sensitivity. It was important for me to use my skills in a truly useful way to make a wider selection of clothing. I chose to start with jeans because nearly everyone wears jeans and they can be tough to get on and off.

MY STORY

My stepsister became a wheelchair user after a failed back surgery and began to struggle with dressing. There were no choices in adaptive clothing that were fashionable. With my background in clothing design and garment construction as well as lifelong ties to the disability community, I was compelled to provide a solution.

WHY WE LOVE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD

When I started, Los Angeles was the denim capital in the U.S. The manufacturing community here helped me make it all happen. It was the perfect place for us.

THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE WE FACED

Maintaining sufficient inventory levels. Manufacturing in small quantities is prohibitive to growth for a small business, and it’s too expensive to produce large inventories when you don’t have the capital.

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“It was important to me to use my skills in a truly useful way to make a wider selection of clothing.”

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