Today we’d like to introduce you to Marta Elena Cortez-Neavel.
Hi Marta Elena, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
Art, fashion, and creativity have always been strong forces in my life — so much so that an art professor once told me I must have “ink in my veins.” I started drawing, decorating, and designing clothes when I was very young, but as I got closer to college, my family encouraged me to pursue a more ‘practical’ career. I kept telling myself I’d be fine once I got into medical school, that my future would be set, and that I could be creative in my free time. After turning down acceptances to the top art schools in the country, I spent my time in college studying public policy, social innovation, and the pre-medical sciences — making everyone happy but myself.
While in school, I became increasingly distracted by a new interest — designing cute, functional accessories for people with disabilities, chronic illnesses, and medical devices. This allowed me to combine my knowledge and interest in the medical sciences with my creativity and talent for design. A few years later, while in medical school in California, I found myself feeling incredibly depressed and unfulfilled in both my career and my life.
This side project soon became a passion, and in January of 2020, my adaptive designs were launched on Aerie’s website. In that first week after launching, the Insulin Pump Belt went viral, thanks to the incredible support of the Type 1 Diabetes community. Women worldwide were sharing social media posts about how much it meant to them to see T1D and the disability community not only represented in a campaign by such a big fashion retailer but accommodated by cute, functional products designed to fit their unique needs. The joy, purpose, and validation I felt after we launched this collaboration gave me the courage to drop out of medical school and begin building the life I want.
A year ago, I moved back to Austin, my hometown, to grow Abilitee into a disability-focused apparel brand. Since then, we have added new products to our website, worked with international brands like Teva, designed custom adaptive outfits for disability influencers, and have been invited to retail our products with some of the world’s largest retailers. It’s been an exciting journey, but I truly feel like we are just getting started.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Getting here has been anything but easy. While privileged in many respects, I have struggled with anxiety, depression, ADHD, my queerness, and the discrimination that often (if not always) comes with those things. No one should be forced into a life of exclusion and suffering simply because of who they are. The academic and corporate worlds were not designed to help people like myself succeed — in fact, they were not designed to help most people succeed or live healthy, balanced lives. As a result, I spent much of my life studying, working, and otherwise grinding away to keep my head above water. Unfortunately, that often resulted in complete burnout, where my physical, mental, and emotional health became challenging. Today, these experiences drive my advocacy and work around inclusion in society, industry, and the workplace.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
This year, I am launching Futurekind Studio, an inclusive design studio, innovation lab, and consultancy focused on disability, neurodiversity, and LGBTQ+ inclusion. Futurekind Studio is the culmination of years of thinking and dreaming about influencing greater change in the fashion and arts industries, which remain largely exclusive, competitive, and hierarchical. The vision behind Futurekind is to create an anti-capitalist space that encourages joy, collaboration, and purposeful design to create a better world for all of us.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those just starting.
You don’t have to do things as they’ve always been. You shouldn’t. There are many reasons that so much of our world is struggling today, and one of those reasons is our obsession with maintaining the status quo, even when it isn’t working for everyone. To build a brighter future, we must try new things. There’s no other way to innovate. Another piece of advice: learn to be your best friend, biggest fan, and advocate. Be intentional about who and what you give your energy to. Whether you’re talking about a business relationship, a romantic relationship, a friendship, or a family, you deserve to feel heard, understood, and supported. If a relationship doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. Surround yourself with people who encourage you to be authentic, and your life will improve immeasurably.
Contact Info:
- Website: abilitee.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abiliteeadaptivewear/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abiliteeadaptivewear/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@abilitee?lang=en
Image Credits
Marta Elena, Cortez-Neavel, Laura McNairy
