Nonprofit Suits-N-Sports helps athletes prepare for their future in many ways—from treating their mental health to building their personal brand—founder Jordan Lewis said.
A closer look
Prior to founding Suits-N-Sports around November 2022, Lewis said he managed a men’s formal wear store, helping clients find the correct fit for suits and other clothing. He said some of the most memorable moments were seeing the impact his work had for young clients and their families.
“It was particularly special when I had a young man that had never had a suit or had never been to a formal gala or anything like that,” Lewis said.
Lewis said these experiences prompted him to want to help more families and teach more young men how to dress for important life events. Suits-N-Sports is based out of the Lake Houston area but works with high school athletes across the Greater Houston area, helping them to dress well for athletic recruiting opportunities, interviews and more.
Suits-N-Sports operates via paid memberships and primarily works with athletes in ninth-eleventh grade, Lewis said. Most of his clients are boys, but girls are welcome to seek services also.
“I needed to shift down to the high school level, and I knew my reach would be greater,” Lewis said. “I would be able to impact more students, more schools and also be able to work with families as well.”
The nonprofit also works with sponsors to gift suits to young athletes, and it has hosted community events to give students backpacks, school supplies, haircuts and groceries, Lewis said.
What else?
In the last four years, Suits-N-Sports’ reach has grown to offer more support for high school athletes, Lewis said. On top of wardrobe consultations, the organization offers access to mental health support, media and social media training, financial advice, nutrition help, and professional photography and videography.
“We serve student athletes in the sense of three pillars,” Lewis said. “It's image in three capacities: internal image, external image and financial image.”
Students tend to be most excited about photo opportunities and working on their social media presence, Lewis said. Learning how to navigate these areas early is important as young athletes prepare to potentially be recruited by large universities or professional athletic organizations, he said.
“Families do great jobs raising children, but they're still children,” Lewis said. “So, the assistance that's needed to help build an image and sustain an image—that's what we focus on.”
Stay tuned
Lewis said he is interested in expanding Suits-N-Sports to help young athletes across the country.
“We realize that we have that opportunity to expand now. ... There are kids that have heard about Suits-N-Sports not just in Houston, not just in Texas,” Lewis said.
