Australian adaptive fashion brand Jam The Label will grow its footprint through seed funding and collaborations, following a 400% growth in sales since last year.
Jam specialises in creating designer clothes for those living with disabilities, focusing on accessibility and design.
Speaking with Ragtrader, co-founders Emma Clegg and Molly Rogers said they are hoping to raise $700,000 through its seed round to support team hires and product development.
“This will allow for us to become the leaders of inclusive fashion within Australia, which we think we're already really well-positioned to be the leaders with our expertise and accessibility,” Clegg said.
“[It] will allow us to make some key hires in a fashion designer with disability, some key hires in marketing, and really be able to get our brand out there and educate the market on Jam and inclusive fashion.
“Unfortunately, up until now, we just haven't had the funds to be able to do that.”
Part of Jam’s focus on key hires have already begun thanks to funding from the Victorian Government, which allowed them to hire a new fashion designer with a disability.
“We're currently working with a young designer called Rachel Shugg, which has been a great process, but we're also looking to hire from investment.
“So probably next year an ongoing senior fashion designer with disability. We're currently on the hunt for a fashion designer with a bit more experience that also has disability to join the team for Jam.
“I think that's going to be an integral role for our business and one we're really excited to be able to offer.”
Clegg and Rogers said Jam's 400% growth in sales over the last year came from its collaboration with The Iconic last year.
According to Rogers, the collaboration was a “pivotal moment” in terms of credibility and recognition for the brand in the industry.
Following this critical initiative, the brand continues to collaborate, focusing on artists and designers with disabilities.
“We've just recently collaborated with Digby Webster, who's a disabled artist from Sydney – he created artwork for our recent jacket we've released,” Rogers said.
“Fashion is a form of self-expression, and people with a disability shouldn’t have to compromise function over fashion."
Based on Jam's original wheelchair accessible jackets, the new pieces include a universal design feature: magnetic zips.
“Magnetic zips are a simple way to help anyone get dressed in half the time," Rogers continued. "Our garments are designed to be easily put on and taken off, independently or assisted.
"Now you, or your disability support worker, can just connect the magnetic zips together without any stress."
The jackets also feature a detachable back panel to reduce fabric bunching while in the seated position.
Moving forward, the brand is keen to focus on its online presence, with an inclination to launch new pop-ups and find new stockists for the future.
“A lot of the retail industry is moving online,” Rogers said. “But, for our product, a lot of people want able to use the design features to be able to see how they work.
“So we're looking into doing pop up stores, and we’re definitely interested in retailers in the future.
“But yeah, it's mostly online for now.”
Background
Jam The Label was launched in 2019 with just one product, according to Clegg and Rogers.
“Since then, we've now got over 15 products, and are on more than three other retailers as well as our own website,” Clegg said. “In the last year alone, our sales have grown by over 400%. We couldn't have imagined how well it's grown, and it’s recognition within the industry as well.”
Jam The Label was established with the disability community in mind, with the name arising from Jack and Maddie, who were Clegg and Roger’s clients when they worked as disability support workers.
“When we design our pieces, we incorporate principles of universal design, which means that we get feedback on what dressing needs exist and what they're currently having difficulty with - getting dressed or accessing - and then we work backwards from there,” said Clegg.
“We ask ourselves, ‘What design features can we incorporate that already exist possibly in the fashion industry?’”
“Something like a drop crotch, for instance – which a lot of pants already have drop crotch – but for someone in the seated position, allows more fabric for them to pull up.
“In a wheelchair, or for someone that might wear continence aids, having a drop crotch helps with the discretion of that.
“But really, anyone can wear a drop crotch, and we just think about how it can benefit different dressing needs that are out there.
“We just really try to apply as many design features to as many different dressing needs that are out there and think of disability and the dressing needs as broadly as we can.”