Tork clothing supports juvenile diabetes research
Portion of Tiger’s apparel line proceeds will aid foundation
Detroit Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson is putting out some new thread, and supporting a charitable cause along the way.
Torkelson is partnering with KiwiClo, a Detroit-based clothing brand, which is dropping a limited collection in collaboration with the Tigers star, with a portion of the proceeds from the hats, shirts and sweatshirts benefiting the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
Torkelson’s first-ever clothing line will be available to purchase on KiwiClo.com at noon Friday, just one hour before the Tigers play against the Kansas City Royals at Comerica Park.
Torkelson chose to support the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes research.
“My mom is Type 1 diabetic,” Torkelson, 24, said. “She’s obviously had the capabilities of buying insulin, and insulin is very expensive, so I want anyone who has diabetes to have access to insulin. I feel bad for kids with it. I had a good buddy in high school get it in high school, and it was super scary. That’s just one of the things I care about.”
The first 500 orders will receive an exclusive Torkelson trading card. (The clothing brand is also going to release a limited collection of dog hoodies, with sales benefitting the Detroit Dog Rescue.)
Torkelson won’t receive any money from the profits.
“It’s definitely neat to be able to use what I do as my work to help out people off the field,” Torkelson said. “It’s definitely bigger than baseball.”
Jordan Field, the Tigers’ director of player and alumni relations, helped Torkelson get connected with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation for a previous autograph signing program.
Torkelson doesn’t have his own charity, so
he asked for a list of non-profit organizations for diabetes in the Detroit area. Field delivered the list; Torkelson picked the JDRF, whose vision is “a world without type 1 diabetes,” and the JDRF mission statement is “improving lives today and tomorrow by accelerating life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent and treat T1D and its complications.” “My mom battles through it,” Torkelson said. “You don’t even know she has it, but she definitely sometimes suffers and doesn’t feel right, but she’s such a warrior. I’m sure these kids are the same way. I want to make sure they have access to insulin to stay healthy, because if you don’t take care of it, it
can affect your health seriously.”
The partnership between Torkelson and KiwiClo started when the Detroit-based clothing brand reached out to his fiancée, Makenna Mattei, about a collaboration. Both Torkelson and Mattei took part in a photoshoot with the clothes.
Before Torkelson, KiwiClo partnered with Michigan running back Blake Corum, Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy, Pistons guard Cade Cunningham, Lions running back David Montgomery and Red Wings defenseman Jake Walman, among others, since 2023.
Torkelson is in his third MLB season with the Tigers.