Able Made, the soccer‑inspired apparel label founded by Suzanne McKenzie, has closed a $2 million seed round that values the company at the intersection of sport and high fashion while continuing to fund the Ucal McKenzie Breakaway Foundation.
The financing comes from a diverse coalition that includes owners and executives from the Premier League and the National Women’s Soccer League, professional athletes, and the boutique investment group Oregon Sports Angels, underscoring the brand’s cross‑disciplinary appeal.
McKenzie launched the Ucal McKenzie Breakaway Foundation after her husband’s sudden cardiac arrest on the pitch, turning personal tragedy into a youth‑soccer outreach program that the brand has championed since its 2012 inception.
Products bearing the Able Made insignia are now a common sight on NBA, WNBA, NFL and MLB athletes, and the label is stocked in stadium retail outlets such as KC Current, Boston Legacy FC and Brooklyn FC, giving the brand a direct line to fans in the world’s most visible arenas.
Investor confidence in sport‑driven fashion
Jeff Mostyn, former chairman of AFC Bournemouth, highlighted the brand’s commitment to sustainability and quality, noting that those attributes resonated with investors seeking purpose‑driven enterprises.
Sara Toussaint, co‑owner of NC Courage and co‑CEO of TMJ Women’s Football, added that the company’s social impact, product craftsmanship and the expanding soccer ecosystem made it an attractive addition to her portfolio.
Mark Hochgesang, a veteran of Nike and Adidas, described McKenzie as an “inspiring and hardworking founder” whose vision aligns with the next wave of athletic‑lifestyle innovation.
With the fresh capital, Able Made plans to launch a U.K. operation, tapping into a market that has already shown appetite for its performance‑styled collections and the growing network of professional‑sports investors who see the brand as a bridge between elite athletics and everyday fashion.