More Than a Jersey: Able Made on Purpose, Play, and the Power of Soccer

Soccer has always been about more than what happens on the field. It’s a language spoken across cultures, a source of identity and belonging, and a force capable of bringing people together in powerful ways. For Able Made, those qualities are woven into every part of the brand.

Founded by designer and entrepreneur Angeline Benitez, Able Made emerged from a deeply personal story and a desire to transform loss into lasting impact. Inspired by the life and legacy of her late husband, the brand combines soccer culture, thoughtful design, and social responsibility, creating apparel that celebrates the game while supporting youth health, mentorship, and access to sport through the Ucal McKenzie Breakaway Foundation.

As global excitement around soccer continues to build, Able Made offers a perspective that extends beyond fandom and fashion. Through responsibly sourced materials, community-driven initiatives, and a commitment to making the game more accessible, the brand reflects the values that have long made soccer one of the world's most unifying forces. 

As the world's biggest soccer tournament brings fans together across the globe, Able Made arrives at 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge and 1 Hotel Central Park for a summer pop-up celebrating purpose-driven design and football culture. We spoke with founder Angeline about the story behind the brand, the communities that inspire its work, and why the future of the world's game extends far beyond the pitch. Explore our event calendar for more viewing parties, pop-ups, workshops, and tournament-inspired experiences.

Behind the Brand with Angeline Benitez, Founder & CEO of Able Made

Able Made blends soccer culture with responsible design in a way that feels personal and purpose-driven. What first inspired the brand, and how did your connection to the game shape the vision from the beginning?

The ABLE MADE brand’s story is rooted in impact and an authentic connection to the game. I launched the business to honor the life of my late husband, who passed away from sudden cardiac arrest while playing soccer in Boston. Today, a portion of proceeds from every sale fund city-youth soccer and health programming through the non-profit Ucal McKenzie Breakaway Foundation (UMBF), further embedding purpose in every part of the brand.

Soccer has always been about more than sport: it’s community, identity, movement, and belonging. How do you hope Able Made captures that spirit through the pieces you create?

ABLE MADE is becoming renowned for its fusion of soccer culture, style, and responsibly-made design, building a community around passion, craftsmanship, and purpose. We make sure our factory partners are in safe work environments, paid fairly, and we select more earth-friendly fabrics and trims, including deadstock and certified organic fabrics, and cruelty-free Merino wool. We also have a more inclusive size range, from XS-XXL. Our aim has always been to combine the energy of the beautiful game with the sophistication of high fashion to create a desirable product and brand experience.

Every Able Made collection supports the Ucal McKenzie Breakaway Foundation. Can you share the story behind the foundation and why giving back to youth health and mentorship remains such a central part of the brand?

Youth sports have become completely out of control cost and quality wise in the U.S. and worldwide, so much so that over 60% of families in the United States say that youth sports are a financial strain. I’m pushing against the pay-to-play model by producing affordable and accessible city-youth soccer camps and clinics in Boston, Hartford, and New York City. A full week of camp is $0-99 on average per camper, and our ABLE MADE sale proceeds supporting the cause helps make the affordability a reality. The camps also integrate not only top soccer training, visits and sessions with top pro and college soccer players, but also an hour of health and wellbeing education each day–from hands-only CPR, AED education, nutrition, financial literacy, injury prevention, sports recovery, suicide prevention, and mental wellbeing sessions and more. A foundation in wellness is the throughline in both Breakaway Foundation and ABLE MADE.

Partnering with 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge during this moment in global soccer culture feels especially fitting. What drew you to collaborating with 1 Hotels, and where do you see alignment between the brand values and your own?

Our 2026 summer pop ups with 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge and 1 Hotel Central Park properties will be our eighth and ninth partnership shops. We are so excited to be back! ABLE MADE and 1 Hotels share a genuine connection of being values-and-service-driven, and more responsible/sustainable. We also share a similar and design-driven approach: beautifully designed, sophisticated, and elevated that guests are excited to connect with.=

Soccer style has long transcended the pitch, influencing music, streetwear, travel, and everyday dressing. How do you see the future of soccer-inspired fashion evolving, especially through a more conscious lens?

Soccer or football is the most popular sport in the world. As a former athlete, I love to see the growth of the game from across all sports, and the impact of sports on business and fashion. Our ABLE MADE approach is forever sport-inspired product- and story-led, with desirability at the center, all while embedding impact into how we make and operate. We’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with some global and iconic brands, and hopefully inspire how the industry can work together more consistently to be more sustainable and responsible as a whole, from sharing deadstock fabrics, to giving sale proceeds back to our communities. I see a future of soccer-inspired fashion evolving with more teamwork, on and off the pitch.

Beyond the Pitch

As the game continues to connect communities across borders and generations, Able Made is proving that what we wear can carry purpose far beyond style. Explore their soccer-inspired collections and learn more about their mission at https://ablemadeshop.com/.