Luka and Clark Sabbat’s Latest Project Uses Fashion to Help Haiti

Grown-ish star, model, and front-row fixture Luka Sabbat has become renowned for his distinctive personal style. But he'd been waiting for a meaningful project to parlay his new-media influence into a product range. Now, the it kid has teamed with his fashion-designer father Clark for a range of underwear, created in partnership with Related Garments, that benefits educational organizations in Haiti. Dubbed Sabbat x Related, the collection encompasses 12 pieces that range from camo-covered boxer briefs to tri-color socks adorned with the word ‘Revolution.’ With colors that correspond to Haiti’s flag, the pieces nod to the nation’s traditions and Sabbat’s heritage. “It was an experience because we actually went to Haiti—it's not like we designed it from home and did the charity thing from the crib,” Luka says. “It was cool seeing everything: how people live, understanding the culture, coming up with the designs, and shooting.”

The process was impactful for the Sabbats, who used the seven-day visit alongside Related founders David and Mike Appeal to see family members and connect with Help Haiti, the charitable organizations that will benefit from the proceeds of the collection. For Clark, who has visited the island regularly since childhood, the trip meant reconnecting with his past, while Luka got to experience Port-au-Prince and its beauty for the first time. “I’m first-generation American, so I had the good fortune to go to Haiti every summer when I was a kid,” says Clark. “I grew up with an understanding of how most of the world lives, which is often not in a very good way. I don’t take for granted all the opportunities we’ve been given. There's got to be a reason behind it—we wanted to create something that can actually benefit people."

For Luka, Clark adds, "the project was a powerful way to help—to go back to see where his family comes from and who he is, and also to actually give back in a meaningful way.” (Help Haiti provides merit- and need-based scholarships for children.) And though a pair of socks or underwear may seem inconsequential, both Sabbats understand that little things can make a big difference. “You’re not going to see underwear per se—it’s so personal, you wear it under your clothes—but it’s good to know that part of your money is going to charity,” says Luka. “People spend so much on useless stuff—but when you give back, [even] if it’s small, it adds up.”