Fun fact: our CDSS socks have raised over $28,000 since they were first released in 2021!
Have you ever wondered how these mismatched socks go from a vision to, well, an actual sock? If so, you’re in luck! Two of our talented designers, Tamara and Salma, are letting us into their heads to reveal just how they created our CDSS 2023 Down Syndrome Fundraiser Socks - and the steps they went through along the way!
Q: When you’re designing a new sock, where do you start?
Tamara: I always first think about the end user and what the intention of the sock is. In this case, we wanted something bold and bright that complimented our other CDSS designs but still stood out. Working with the Canadian Down Syndrome Society (CDSS) was a natural collaboration for us, since mismatched socks are already worn in the community and it was something we wanted to support and bring attention to the best we can.
Salma: Similarly, I always start by thinking about who will be wearing the socks, and what vibe we want to give off. We wanted these socks to give off a bright and colourful vibe, and to make a connection to Down Syndrome with the 21 stripes for the 21 chromosomes. Overall, our goal was to create a pair of socks that were super fun and bright!
Q: How long does it take for a sock to go from an initial idea to a wearable item?
Tamara: It totally depends. With the CDSS socks we do all sizes (Men’s, Women’s and Kids) so it has to be able to translate to all the different sock sizes and still look good. Plus, our kids' socks come in 3’s instead of pairs, so we had to develop an additional design for that which was an extra challenge. .
Salma: It’s different every time- sometimes the design comes together really easily and sometimes it requires several iterations to get it just right. It’s a different situation every single time we create a new design, which makes it really fun!
Q: What changes did you make from the 2022 to the 2023 version of the CDSS sock, and why?
Salma: Instead of starting with the 2022 sock and making changes, we actually started completely from scratch. We used similar colours, but wanted to make a whole new design- something fresh!
Tamara: We kept the stripes and kept to a similar colour palette, but they’re put together in a whole new way. We like to totally reimagine the design so that every year it’s something new. This year, we added hearts into the sock design. This variety in design provides our customers with plenty of options!
Q: What’s your favourite thing about this new design?
Tamara: The use of hearts. I think this aspect is a very literal representation of love that really speaks to our intention to support CDSS and the Down Syndrome community in general!
Salma: The hearts are my favourite feature of this design too- they are such a cute addition!
100% of the proceeds go towards the Canadian Down Syndrome Society and their mission to further human rights, health, social participation, inclusive education, and employment for those with Down Syndrome.
There’s nothing better than supporting a great cause and having the coolest socks in the room!
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Why this is important to us?
In August 2022 we hired a new social media manager, Anastasiia, at Friday HQ. She had come to our team after leaving her hometown in Kherson, Ukraine, as it had been occupied by Russian forces...
]]>Why this is important to us?
In August 2022 we hired a new social media manager, Anastasiia, at Friday HQ. She had come to our team after leaving her hometown in Kherson, Ukraine, as it had been occupied by Russian forces. Anastasiia has been working diligently (on top of her full-time commitment to us) to raise awareness of what's happening back at home and volunteering to raise money and help other newcomers settle into their surroundings here in Calgary.
Hearing her story has inspired us to take action! We decided to collaborate with Anastasiia to create Ukraine socks where 100% of the profits from the sale of these socks will be going towards supporting Ukraine during the ongoing conflict in Eastern Europe. By purchasing these socks, you'll be supporting three different not-for-profit organizations (chosen by Anastasiia):
Stand With Ukraine is a call to action to help, support, and unite all humanity against the war. Peace For Ukraine in Anastasiia's words is "all we want."
We're grateful for each and every one of you who purchase a pair of these fundraiser socks!
]]>Good Neighbour is Calgary’s first pay-what-you-can community market. Their motto - take what you need, leave what you can, and pay what you want. They opened in July 2021, offering clothing, non-perishable foods, and even household items like house plants, this market doesn’t rely on price tags, but on what you personally can pay for that item instead.
Good Neighbour is open and is taking donations on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and is looking for clothing, books, shoes, plants, and non-perishable food. 149 5th Ave S.E.
Here at Team Friday, we love this initiative as one of our core values is giving back to the community. We decided to help out and donate around 800 pairs of socks to round out our holiday 2022 donation mission. We couldn’t be happier donating to such a great community market!
Follow Good Neighbour on Instagram for more info: https://www.instagram.com/goodneighbouryyc/?hl=en
]]>For more than 60 years, the Calgary Drop-In Centre (the DI) has been more than an emergency shelter. We provide essential care as well as health services and housing support to adults experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness. Their programs and services connect people to permanent housing that meets their individual needs.
Rooted in community and fueled by kindness, the DI proudly serves as part of the Homeless-Serving System of Care, the Canadian Shelter Transformation Network, and they are in full support of the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness initiative, Recovery For All.
Their mission is to welcome adults at risk of or experiencing homelessness. Working collaboratively, they provide access to a spectrum of care that supports each person’s transition to the most independent living possible—including emergency shelter, programs and services, and affordable and supported housing. Their vision is a community where everyone can find their home.
Again, this was part of our internal team holiday initiative and we donated another 1000 pairs of socks to the local Calgary branch! Lots of smiles and joy when the mismatched socks arrived right in time for the cold weather!
To learn more about the DI, visit their website: https://calgarydropin.ca/.
]]>Over 35 Years of Growing Hope, the Mustard Seed is a Christian non-profit organization that has been caring for individuals experiencing homelessness and poverty since 1984. Operating in five cities across Alberta and British Columbia, The Mustard Seed is a supportive haven where people can have their physical, mental, and spiritual needs met and grow toward greater health and independence. They have been an agent of change for more than three decades, thanks to donors, volunteers, and support from the community.
Their vision is to eliminate homelessness and reduce poverty where we serve. Their mission is to build hope and well-being for the most vulnerable citizens. They have numerous programs and services that include; basic needs (emergency shelter, meals, clothing, and hygiene items), health and wellness, housing, employment, spiritual care, community engagement, and neighbour centres.
This charity was part of our internal holiday mission of doing good, and was well-known locally for the amazing work they do! We donated just over 1000 pairs of socks to the local Calgary branch (just in time too as we had a big snowfall the next day!). We had a warm welcome as we toured their facilities to learn more about the amazing work and services they provide. We talked to lots of volunteers who by the way are very welcoming and friendly and could not be more proud to be a part of this organization!
To learn more about The Mustard Seed, visit their website: https://theseed.ca/.
]]>This was a fun promotion we ran in the springtime for April Fools 2022. We combined our love of a good April Fool joke with our passion to do good. For every “pair” of Invisible Socks sold we donated a warm pair of REAL socks to a person in need. The socks were $4.00 a pair (FREE SHIPPING) and for each one purchased we sent a limited edition “Invisible Socks Project” sticker to show off to your friends.
Overall the promotion was a huge success and we were able to donate over 300 pairs of socks to those in need! Who knows maybe we will do this again. 👀
]]>The Urban Society for Aboriginal Youth (USAY) has been an influential not-for-profit organization in Calgary since 2001. USAY strives to provide essential programming and services to Calgary’s Indigenous youth between the ages of twelve and twenty-nine. Their mission is to enrich the lives of all urban Indigenous youth by nurturing self-empowerment and fostering healthy collaboration and communication to ensure healthy future generations. Their vision is to be recognized as a fundamental organization in society, empowering urban Indigenous youth to envision and attain a healthy sustainable future while upholding traditional Indigenous values.
Research indicates as few as 11% of Indigenous youth graduate from high school in Calgary; however, when Indigenous youth participate in USAY’s programs high school success and completion significantly increase.
USAY also has a number of core values which include anything from traditional Indigenous values and culture to “Fun” as a teaching value - learning by having fun!
Land Acknowledgement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJ0PnKswVYw&t=1s
We had a warehouse sale in September 2022 and one of the days landed on National Truth & Reconciliation Day (Sept. 30th), so the team decided that 50% of the sales that day would go towards USAY. 🥁 Drumroll please 🥁... we raised and donated $650.00!
To learn more about the Urban Society for Aboriginal Youth and how you can help out, visit their website: https://usay.ca/.
]]>Ally Global works to prevent human trafficking and support survivors through safe homes, education, and work opportunities. They help survivors find healing and restoration through safe homes, education, and job training. Survivors of human trafficking have lived through immense trauma and their pain can make them feel broken and terrified. Safe homes provide a secure place for children to work through past trauma, build meaningful relationships with others, and start to dream for their future.
Ally works through national leaders and established local partners who understand the language and culture where they work. Their project partners are experts in their field and Ally wouldn’t be able to do this work without them. They work in Nepal, Laos, Cambodia, and Canada. The work includes trafficking prevention, safe homes, education, leadership developments, community reintegration, job training, and research and development.
Ally cares for brave survivors of abuse, encourages individuals to dream, and protects vulnerable communities. Together we can help survivors find healing!
We donated $2000 to this charity in August 2022 and helped them make some awesome socks for an annual fundraiser they host called Move for Freedom. Move for Freedom is an annual fundraising event to prevent human trafficking and support the recovery of human trafficking survivors. Participants choose an activity they love (like hiking, biking, or yoga), create a team with friends and family, and set a fundraising goal. On the event day, teams participate from wherever they live to help survivors find healing!
To find out more about their initiatives, visit their website: https://ally.org/.
]]>The Canadian Down Syndrome Society (CDSS) is a national non-profit organization focused on human rights, health, social participation, inclusive education, and employment for those with Down syndrome. CDSS supports self-advocates, parents, and families through all stages of life. Their vision is that all people are valued, fully participating citizens. Their mission is the national source of expertise promoting the abilities and contributions of people with Down syndrome. They provide reliable information and connections to people with Down syndrome and those who support them, while positively shaping the social and policy contexts in which they live.
The CDSS provides numerous information on a variety of topics as well as many advocacy efforts. Some of those topics include; a resource hub for supporting all aspects of living with Down syndrome, major life-stage resources, and advocacy efforts with Federal, Provincial, and Territorial Governments.
The CDSS also has multiple positions on a range of important issues associated with the Down syndrome community in Canada. These issues range from preferred language to prenatal genetic screening and testing. Find out more about the positions here: https://cdss.ca/about/positioning/.
Supporting the CDSS has been the biggest initiative we have to date! We were able to partner with them to create a custom one-of-a-kind mismatched sock design, where 100% of the proceeds go directly to the CDSS to help them with their efforts. The socks are available in Men's, Women's, and Kid sizes. Each design features 21 stripes to represent 21 chromosomes. Adult socks are made using OEKOTEX® certified Cotton. Kid socks come in three individual socks to one pair, and are made with GOTS® certified Organic Combed Cotton.
Since October 2021 we are pleased to announce we have raised over $18,000! If you are interested in helping out and want a pair, click the button below.
]]>Joggin for a Noggin is a one-day Halloween-themed fun run with the purpose of sending Neurosurgery kids to Camp Everest South. For many neurosurgical kids, this is the only opportunity they will have to attend a summer camp. The camp is a week-long and provides the kids with a sense of belonging among their peers. It also provides the opportunity to help them gain self-confidence and independence through a variety of outdoor adventures! The camp is located in Kananaskis Country, near Bragg Creek, Alberta. In 2019 Joggin for a Noggin was able to send 38 Neurosurgery kids to camp. They had to take a 2-year pause but came back in 2022!
Giving back to the community is one of our core values, especially supporting local kids! Initiatives like these are always on our radar and we are happy to announce we were able to give a $400 donation to help subsidize summer camp for the kids!
For more information about Joggin for a Noggin you can visit their website by clicking here. Be sure to keep up to date for the next event!
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