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Sold Out! Strong Athletic Zebra Shirts for People with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome

$29.00
These are the shirts that Strong Athletic made for the strong humans living with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. People with EDS often are referred to as Zebras or Medical Zebras, and that is why the group "Ehlers Danlos Athletes" chose to have the shirts say Strong Athletic Zebra. Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) is a disease that weakens the connective tissues of your body. EDS can make your joints loose and your skin thin and easily bruised. It also can weaken blood vessels and organs. A portion of profits from each shirt sold will be donated to the Ehlers-Danlos Society.
Availability:
This shirt was made in a small batch and is now sold out.

About the Strong Athletic Zebra Shirts

Strong Athletic was asked by a group of athletes known as "Ehlers-Danlos Athletes" to make this shirt as a vehicle for speaking up about what it's like to live with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). People with EDS are often referred to as Zebras or Medical Zebras, so the design of the shirt is to reference that name.

So what is EDS? According to The Ehler-Danlos Society, EDS is generally characterized by joint hypermobility (joints that stretch further than normal), skin hyperextensibility (skin that can be stretched further than normal), and tissue fragility. That said, symptoms can manifest in many ways and is part of why EDS is often misdiagnosed, leaving people to advocate and fight for proper care. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, an estimated 1 in 5,000 people worldwide have one of several types of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). While quite a bit rarer than say, someone having red hair, there are many well-known Zebras, such as Sia or Jameela Jamil.

Kierstin Diana Angela, aka BlackEye Betty from Jackson, NJ told us more about EDS and also why the group of people that she is a part of, the "Ehlers-Danlos Athletes" requested this shirt. 

"Ehlers Danlos Syndrome is a rare genetic connective tissue disorder. There are 13 different types, with the most common type Hypermobile EDS (hEDS) having an estimated 200,000 cases diagnosed a year. Because it is a rare disease and getting a diagnosis tends to be a very long, tedious process, those of us with the diagnosis call ourselves “Medical Zebras” or “Zebras” for short. Because people with EDS having weak connective tissue, joints that may easily dislocate, and fragile skin, there is controversy between doctors believing patients should not play contact sports, lift weights, or do any other “extreme” forms of exercise. Many of us zebras though, with support from other doctors, physical therapists, rheumatologists, and more, have found that staying active, helps minimize pain and discomfort. So many people look at people with physical disabilities as sedentary, but many of us are athletes. We embody the phrase “Strong Athletic”."

Another group of people who also call themselves Zebras are roller derby officiators. Although the original intent for this shirt is to amplify the voices of athletes with EDS, Strong Athletic knows that it creates a unique bond between the two groups of people. So, if you're an officiator, feel free to buy and wear this shirt, just help us spread the word about athletes with EDS, so that more people can learn about the syndrome. 

This design comes printed on two different styles of shirts: a traditional t-shirt and a muscle tank. See images above of the shirt styles and also utilize the size chart to see which size you need. This design will be printed in a small batch and will not be available to buy after December 14, 2020. 

To find out more about EDS, you can go to the Ehlers-Danlos Society, a portion of profits from each shirt sold will go to this organization. 

 

https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/ehlers-danlos-syndrome/#resources

 

https://www.ehlers-danlos.com/what-is-eds/

 

https://www.ehlers-danlos.com/why-the-zebra/

 

 

 

Did you know that Strong Athletic has a 100% satisfaction policy? If you don't like the fit or look of the product once you receive it or your product is damaged, you can exchange it for another product or return it, as long as it is in the exact condition it was in when you received it. (So don't let your cat wear it after you try it on if you're going to return it). If after the first wash all of the ink washes out or the hem unravels, or there is any other obvious defect in the quality of your item, you can exchange your item or receive a full refund. Email us at hello@strongathletic.com for any or all issues.