We are thrilled to announce the launch of our basics line, Support Your Friends by KROST.
Our brand’s mission relies on the emphasis of inclusivity.
Embracing our differences helped us build a powerful & diverse Community with members who stand together and support one another. With every new project our main goal remains the same; to increase awareness around various societal causes and highlight the individuals who form the movements that fight for change.
Support Your Friends by KROST offers a variety of basics made from premium quality materials & fabrics, carefully designed to represent our brand’s cherished motto, ‘Support Your Friends’. By introducing a line that promotes accessibility and inclusivity into our e-commerce space, our hope is to expand our reach & strengthen our Community.
To share this new collection, we have partnered with friends both old and new, who have dedicated their work to a diverse range of social issues.
Food Bank For New York City & BK Community Fridges
“We all come from different walks of life but we have a deep desire to protect and serve the city that we love. “
When we were chatting about concepts for our new basics line, Support Your Friends by KROST, we chose to focus on the one theme that remained consistent with each discussion, "Community." The Foodbank For NYC is an organization with a cause that aims to “protect & serve the city that we love.” BK Community Fridges is an organization with a mission to “eradicate the problem of food insecurity.” Both incredible movements are fighting toward a collective goal for our Community; to end hunger in NY.
Food Bank For New York City representatives, Joana Casas-Acosta, Associate Director Zanita Tisdale, Cody Gohl, Mia Lane-Small, and Sultana Ocasios address ending hunger by collecting food, understanding the reality of hunger, and using that information to empower our Community. For over 36 years, the organization has been working to end food poverty in our five boroughs, and as the city’s largest hunger-relief organization, employs a multifaceted approach centered on helping low-income New Yorkers overcome their circumstances and achieve greater independence.
Since 1983, Food Bank For New York City has been the city’s major hunger-relief organization working to end hunger throughout the five boroughs. Nearly one in five New Yorkers relies on Food Bank for food and other resources. Through its network of more than 800 charities and schools citywide, Food Bank provided more than 80 million free meals last year for New Yorkers in need.
Chief Director Aliffer Sabek explains how BK Community Fridges feeds Brooklyn one fridge at a time through installations stocked by the Community, filled with sealed packaged items and raw produce.
Witnessing these two organizations operating with a common goal to “Support the Community” was heartening & encouraging. Thank you for your words & all your hard work.
Follow Food Bank For NYC (@foodbanknyc) and BK Community Fridges (@bkfridges)
March For Our Lives
“Gun violence & violence in general goes down when communities are truly supported”
We knew that joining forces with March For Our Lives would be an essential part of this specific campaign. Not only do we support the organization’s mission to ‘end the gun violence epidemic’, the incredible students that formed MFOL were the ultimate inspiration behind the birth of our brand.
A longtime partner of KROST, March For Our Lives was founded in response to the tragic shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Their mission is to harness the power of young people across the country and fight for sensible gun violence prevention policies that save lives.
MFOL Digital Media Manager, Matthew Hogenmiller (@matthewhogen), shared his thoughts on the gun violence epidemic and aspirations for what he hopes will be our future. Matthew’s desire to contribute and enact lasting change is seen through notable activism and his leadership role in MFOL’s HQ board.
Thanks for your work Matthew, you’re a good friend.
Learn more by visiting the March For Our Lives website, and follow on @marchforourlives.
Mental Health Advocate & NAMI Representative, Britt Turpack
“Hold space for your loved ones so they feel seen, heard, and in turn - supported.”
With millions of Americans feeling the effects of mental health yearly, we felt it was our responsibility to help support our friends who may struggle with mental wellbeing. Reuniting with mental health advocate and representative of The National Alliance on Mental Illness , Britt Turpack (@meetbrit), for this campaign was an important initiative for highlighting mental health, and for encouraging those impacted to take steps to activity “Support Your Mind.”
The National Alliance on Mental Illness is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization, committed to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. NAMI’s resources include education, support, and advocacy to improve the life of those impacted, including their families and friends, mental health professionals, and all who share NAMI’s vision and mission.
Britt discussed her mission to end the stigma around mental illness, shared her insights into her own mental health journey, and offered advice for others who are struggling.
Britt, thank you for being there, you are a light in this world.
To learn more visit The National Alliance on Mental Illness of West LA website, and follow @namiwla.
LGBTQ+ Advocates, Elliott Sailors, Peppermint, and Devin-Norelle
“A friend is someone who shows up, especially when it’s inconvenient.”
The concept of our Basics line, Support Your Friends by KROST, was inspired by the incredible individuals who are creating meaningful change in our world. LGBTQ+ leading advocates, Elliot Sailors (@elliottsailors), Peppermint (@peppermint247), and Devin-Norelle (@steroidbeyonce), are prime examples of those people leading our society toward positivism, acceptance, and change.
A role model and strong voice, Elliot has spoken in schools and conferences across the US and UK on mindfulness, self-esteem, peer-pressure, and advocacy for LGBTQ+ and Women’s rights. Elliot founded the Be True To You Movement, which empowers people and brands to make a difference toward equality & acceptance. Peppermint is an actress, singer, songwriter, television personality, drag queen, and activist from New York City. She is best known as the runner-up on the ninth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race, and in 2018, made her debut in The Go-Go’s inspired musical Head Over Heels as Pythio, becoming Broadway’s first public trans woman to originate a lead role. Devin-Norelle is a non-binary model, advocate, writer, and public speaker. Ze has written for GQ, Teen Vogue, Allure, Them, and Out Magazine, and walked in New York Fashion Week for Chromat and Dapper.
Ellliot, Peppermint & Devin-Norelle took time off of their busy schedule to sit down with us and help us understand some of the challenges the queer community faces, and educate us on how to effectively fight for equality for LGBTQ+ people through supporting movements like The Sylvia Rivera Law Project (@sylviariveralawproject) and Black Trans Rent Relief (@blacktransrentrelief).
You were all a complete joy on set, thank you for adding such an important element to this campaign.
STOMP Out Bullying & Encourage Kids Foundation
“Changing the culture and ending the hate- that is critical.”
“Inclusivity,” the primary word that defines the vision for our new basics line, SYF by KROST. Stomp Out Bullying & enCourage Kids Foundation are two special organizations that fight tirelessly to ‘Support Our Children’ by implementing inclusivity in schools and hospitals across New York.
STOMP Out Bullying CEO & Founder, Ross Ellis, discusses her mission to "work with kids to help solve bully situations - keeping them safe, alive and empowering them.” With 3 million children hospitalized each year, President & CEO of enCourage Kids Foundation, Michele Hall-Duncan aims to “make hospitals better place to get better,” regardless of economic and social status.
STOMP Out Bullying works to reduce and prevent bullying and digital abuse, educates against homophobia, LGBTQ, discrimination, and racism. The organization teaches effective policies on how to respond to all types of bullying and provides help for those in need and at risk of suicide, accompanied with raising awareness through peer mentoring programs in schools, public service announcements, and social media campaigns.
3 million children are hospitalized in the United States each year. enCourage Kids Foundation is on a mission to reach each and every one. Since 1985, enCourage Kids has helped humanize healthcare for children and their families by resourcing impact-driven pediatric programs and supporting the child life community.They have provided over $16 million in direct funding to our partners nationwide to help make hospitals a better place to get better. enCourage Kids Foundation envisions a world where every child—regardless of the difficulty of their medical journey—experiences joy, hope, resilience, and healing.
Ross & Michele, it was an honor to connect with you two, thank you for helping shape our future.
Visit the enCourage Kids Foundation (@encouragekids) and STOMP out Bullying (@theofficialstompoutbullying) to learn more.
Freedom March NYC & The Descendants
“Have empathy & sympathy for situations that you’ve never been in, won’t ever be in, or can’t comprehend fully - and giving them respect they need for their fight, that is Supporting Your Friends”.
Our SYF basics line shines a light on the power of unity, we believe that change can only be achieved through the support of our friends. That sentiment is clearly seen through the impact of two outstanding racial justice movements that fight towards equality, justice & change.
Freedom March NYC Representative, Nia White (@theniawhite), explains how her organization achieves success by “advocating for policy reform to create necessary change in the Black community,” & Founder of the Descendants, Cherish Patton (@cherishluvsyou), discusses her goal to “liberate & educate the Black community, so future generations will benefit.”
On the issue of racial inequality, Freedom March NYC, currently at the frontlines of mobilization efforts in NYC, non-violently protests and advocates for policy reform. Freedom March NYC is mobilizing to become a youth-led civil rights organization for our generation. Cherish Patton is an Activist for racial equality & justice, as well as an actor, educator, dancer, director, and pan-African enthusiast.
Nia & Cherish, the dedication you put into your work is powerfully evident & inspiring, we’re very grateful for your partnership.
Visit Freedom March NYC (@freedommarchnyc) and The Descendants (@thedescendants2020) to learn more.
A portion of proceeds from the Support Your Friends by KROST line will be donated directly to each of the 9 organizations.
Support Your Friends by KROST is available online now.