Across the globe, we are in an unprecedented mental health crisis, as uncertainty sweeps the city, country and globe in so many ways. The post-pandemic struggle is very real for people of all ages and celebrated (and celebrity-loved) local fashion designer Ellie Mae wanted to help make a difference. So, she partnered with Kids Help Phone for her latest collaboration, aiming to make a difference in her community.
About the Ellie Mae x Kids Help Phone collab
One day, Mae took a trip to an elementary school not far from her Rosedale storefront and asked a group of young children to describe what feeling out loud means to them—through pictures. The result was a collection of vibrant, innocent drawings, which Mae then imprinted onto t-shirts, totes and more. The mission was to encourage children to “Feel Out Loud,” and remind them that emotions are okay and valid.
Mae has worked with Kids Help Phone for the last three years and has raised over $50,000 to help the non-profit raise money to continue their efforts in the youth mental health space. “I enjoyed being able to meet and paint with the kids for this project and get to know the personalities behind the paintings. It was so much fun to go through the different illustrations and write-ups that the kids made, explaining what their artwork represented. It reminded me that everyone does feel differently and that you never really know what anyone is going through. To see firsthand the illustrations from young people that showcase their struggle made me that much more grateful for Kids Help Phone and the work we do with them,” Mae said.
The collection was officially released in March, and is available online and in-store. Each purchase of the one-of-a-kind items in Ellie Mae’s newest collection sees a portion of the proceeds donated to Kids Help Phone.