On December 7th, Joe & Bella was honored by Chicago Innovation and The Village Chicago at the annual Uniting Generations Event. This event highlights the inspiring power of cross-generational innovation. 

As a recipient of the second annual Turn the Page on Age Awards, Joe & Bella was recognized as an innovative business that promotes “positive narratives around older adults.”

We’re proud and humbled to have received this award from such esteemed organizations. We were honored alongside two other wonderful organizations – Hellowiz and American Society on Aging, as well as two amazing individuals – Terry Savage and Mary Mitchell. 

All in different ways these award winners are truly changing people’s perspectives and approaches to aging, cross-generational collaboration and combating ageism. 

At Joe & Bella, we make adaptive clothing that improves the dressing experience for older adults. Many of our customers live with chronic conditions that impact their ability to not only dress but to live independently. Our clothes can be a key resource to building back some independence and dignity as we age. 

Our marketing reflects our values. Most of our models are residents of senior-living communities who benefit from our adaptive clothing. We want to show authentic images of aging adults as opposed to glossy, overly-perfect professional models. And we’ve begun to travel the country, visiting other senior-living communities, where we create Fashion shows with residents as models. These amazing moments, where older adults walk the runway, surrounded by family, friends and fans, applauding them. Each event is a truly joyous moment and shows how a powerful positive community can be as we age. 

There’s nothing more meaningful for us at Joe & Bella, than seeing so many smiles as they put on our clothes and love how they look in them. It’s one thing to provide a functional solution to dressing difficulties. But it’s a whole other when that solution comes with pride, happiness and dignity. 

And that’s what we’re trying to do each and every day – make life a bit easier, and a whole lot more joyous – for older adults everywhere.  

Thank you to Chicago Innovation the The Village Chicago for recognizing our accomplishments and supporting us as we continue to grow and innovate. 

Dress Easy Again!

Jimmy and the Joe & Bella Team

Originally Published on https://joeandbella.com/blogs/news

Ben Graham Joe & Bella VP of Marketing

Ben Graham is the Vice President of Marketing at Joe & Bella, an adaptive-apparel company for older adults that focuses on creating innovative and fashionable apparel. Joe & Bella was recently awarded the “Most Innovative Older Adult Clothing Brand: 2022” by Global Health and “2022 Best New Apparel Brand” by Boomer Venture Summit. Joe & Bella’s first adaptive clothing line, CareZips, won the 2022 "Best New Product”award by Today’s Caregiver Magazine and Caregiver.com. Ben was previously Vice President of Marketing and Partnerships at Collaborata, an innovative marketing-research firm that brought corporate partners together to find solutions to business problems. Collaborata focuses on topics including caregiving, aging, diversity, and equity with clients such as AARP, Procter & Gamble, Bank of America, Target, and Nike. Ben spent many years, together with his family, providing care for his two grandparents who lived for nearly a decade in assisted living and memory care.