“Addiction Hurts” Awareness Event and Sale
Addiction Hurts T-Shirts and Sweatshirts help to bring awareness.
Read Brooke’s story below and why this event is so important!
Help us celebrate Wednesday, Aug 17 @ 5-8pm at the La Jolie MLN Boutique, Elmhurst.
A word from our founder…
A friend approached me with an idea for T-shirts and other apparel. She had experienced addiction in her family and was alarmed about the increase in drug-related deaths among young people.
Her idea is so novel, it played to both our love of fashion and our desire to contribute. Here is her story.
– Daisy Malek-Shadid
Brooke’s Story
I became addicted to alcohol from my first drink. It eased my shyness. It gave me confidence. Suddenly I was the life of the party. I couldn’t resist the rush. From 16 to 29, I was a mess. College was a 4-year drunk. And, during my 20’s, while living in NYC, I often woke up next to a guy I had no recollection of meeting.
I felt like a ho.
For many the word is offensive. But I reserve the right to call it like it was. And for me, the name was fitting. Fast forward to 1982, and I found AA. I was done — ready to do anything they asked of me to put my ugly past behind me. I found a sponsor. I went to a meeting every day. In short, I was ready for rebirth. And I got it.
Brooke
The early years…
The birth of sHOe, sHOpping, cHOcolate, SoHO, HOme, HOckey, pHOne, alcoHOl
Okay, so what do t-shirts and pillows have to do with addiction? While doodling one day I was thinking about my past. For some reason I can’t explain, I wrote the word “shoe.” Then I colored in the HO. Next, I wrote the word “shopping” and colored in the “ho.” Pretty soon I had shoe, shopping, chocolate, Soho, home, hockey and phone…all things I treasure. Sometimes too much. Then the light bulb moment: I wrote the word “alcohol.” And there was “ho.”
I thought, what if I could get t-shirts and sweatshirts made using this idea? I could make a donation to a charity for each item I sold. The idea lay dormant for a few years, and then my wonderful friend Daisy came back into my life with La Jolie MLN.
So, if you have a friend or family member struggling with addiction. Or whether shoes, shopping or chocolate turn on your “ho” switch. Or, if you’re a New Yorker who has a love affair with Soho, we ask that you buy one of our products. You could just be helping to make a “ho” whole again.
Addiction Hurts. You Can Help.
10% of every purchase of our Addiction Hurts “HO” line of T-shirts and other apparel goes to the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation to help those suffering from addiction.
