ABSADI KIDANE
Meet Absadi Kidane, a proud member of For Everyone Co. For Everyone, as the name implies, is an unconventional, worker-owned fashion company intended to serve everyone.
Incarcerated from March of 2017 to December of 2022, Absadi encountered numerous challenges incarcerated folks experience daily including the general lack of accessibility to hygiene. Today, Absadi shares how these experiences have propelled him to criminal justice reform advocacy — using fashion as a vehicle for social change.
Hygiene Accessibility While Incarcerated
“Dove/Neutrogena soaps and Colgate were literally the only items I remembered being sold—no body wash, lotions, shampoos or anything else.
I think a common misconception people have with hygiene is its important if you want to look good. But, being denied access to so many hygienic accessories, I learned how it can make you susceptible to being sick often and longer. This is very common and the terrible impact it has on us multiplies because of the already bad hygienic conditions of the jail regarding air quality, food quality and living standards.
I’ve been sick really bad at times because of the germs and bacteria all around. On top of that, my terrible coughs have worsened by being in those dust-ridden and bad ventilation systems. The jail was not the singular cause of this, but I hold it responsible for impacting my lungs enough that if it wouldn’t have been so bad I can say my health would be better today.”
The road to creativity
“I started a clothing brand called ‘Slightly BRKN’ with a good friend of mine. We love to design and bring to life our relationship with fashion and our personal experiences being incarcerated. My cousin introduced me to her friend who works with For Everyone Collective and from their help I was able to land an internship with their company through CLA (California Lawyers for the Arts - a nonprofit designed to help formerly incarcerated individuals in the arts).
It’s important to me because I believe so many people suffer from mental health problems, but are too afraid and don’t know how to express it. With our clothing brand, I want to show people it’s normal to openly express it, seek help and address their fears. “
How can other people join and/or contribute?
“Shopping brands that are worker-owned, good for the community and not all about profits like For Everyone Collective and Slightly BRKN are the ways we can contribute to beautify our lives and the lives of others. Also, by collectively working together rather than separate when we are all working towards the same goals.”