{"id":144883,"date":"2026-02-25T15:47:37","date_gmt":"2026-02-25T15:47:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/144883\/"},"modified":"2026-02-25T15:47:37","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T15:47:37","slug":"making-streetwear-that-empowers-kids-and-gives-back-qns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/144883\/","title":{"rendered":"Making streetwear that empowers kids and gives back \u2013 QNS"},"content":{"rendered":"

When\u00a0Lindsay\u00a0Colbus, a\u00a0busy\u00a0Astoria<\/a> mom of twins (now 11), learned that her then 7-year-old son Lucas was diagnosed with Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency<\/a>\u2014a rare genetic condition, with no known cure\u2014 she knew it was important to take action by bringing awareness to his challenges while supporting other kids with similar struggles. \u00a0<\/p>\n

Inspired by the kids of New York City, this purpose-driven streetwear company has turned into a movement that empowers kids everywhere and gets lots of support from an amazing community of caring people. But more needs to be done to fund research, improve the lives of those affected and find a cure.\u00a0<\/p>\n

You can find out more about Colbus\u2019 mission and how she\u2019s been giving back here. Her fierce determination and love for her son shine through in everything she does.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Photo courtesy of Kids of Queens\/Lindsay Colbus<\/p>\n

QNS: What\u2019s the best way to get involved and support your important cause?\u00a0<\/p>\n

Lindsay\u00a0Colbus:\u00a0The easiest way to support Kids of Queens\u00a0Kids of Queens: Streetwear that Empowers Kids and Gives Back \u2013 Kids of Queens LLC<\/a> is to join in! Wear the brand, share the message, show up to events and live the mindset behind it: Join the block. Rep your hood. Support your neighbor. \u00a0<\/p>\n

A\u00a0portion\u00a0of apparel sales go toward my son\u2019s cause\u00a0\u2014\u00a0the Alpha-1 Foundation<\/a>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0to help fund research and move us closer to a cure. In 2025, we also began producing community events, starting with the Astoria Turkey Trot\u00a0(in its seventh year), which I took over from another local mom. For the first time in the\u00a0event\u2019s\u00a0history, we introduced a giveback\u00a0component, turning it into direct support for the neighborhood by donating $4,000 to District 30 schools,\u00a0specifically\u00a0for\u00a0athletics.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Lindsay Colbus presenting a check in the amount of $4K to District 30 schools, which Kids of Queens donated from proceeds earned at the recent 2025 Astoria Turkey Trot! Photo courtesy of Kids of Queens\/Lindsay Colbus<\/p>\n

We donate 10% of proceeds to kids overcoming challenges and making a difference through our Bridge to Bravery<\/a> program.\u00a0<\/p>\n

While the brand is rooted in Queens, the message\u00a0isn\u2019t\u00a0limited by geography. Every community has kids overcoming challenges and building pride in where they come from. Queens\u00a0is\u00a0our starting point, but the mindset travels anywhere.\u00a0<\/p>\n

QNS: Your trendy clothing line really makes a statement. Why did you decide to offer unique hoodies, sweatshirts and tees for all ages, as a way of supporting your mission? \u00a0<\/p>\n

LC:\u00a0Streetwear felt natural because\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0how\u00a0kids\u00a0express\u00a0their\u00a0identity. I design\u00a0bold, retro-inspired apparel that is playful but meaningful.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Fabric is just as important to me as the design. Too many kids\u2019 clothes are made with low-quality synthetic materials, like 100% polyester. I prioritize the highest cotton content I can find and work with brands that focus on eco-conscious manufacturing practices. I\u2019m drawn to soft, breathable, durable pieces that are easy for parents to wash and built to last.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The quality of the prints matters just as much. I use high-quality heat transfers made with water-based inks that are free from toxic chemicals, rather than traditional plastic-based inks. They are OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified, which is the gold standard for textile product testing for harmful substances. If something is going on a child\u2019s body, I want it to be safe, comfortable and thoughtfully made.\u00a0<\/p>\n

QNS: Share your backstory and tell readers how you turned uncertainty into action.\u00a0<\/p>\n

LC:\u00a0I moved to New York right after graduating from college, where I studied fashion merchandising, because I was determined to work in the fashion industry in\u00a0NYC. I moved to Manhattan and began my career in fashion PR and publishing, eventually working for a fashion magazine,\u00a0while launching my own jewelry company on the side.\u00a0<\/p>\n

What started as a creative outlet grew into a real business, and I eventually left the magazine to run my jewelry line full-time. Like many small business owners, I learned how unpredictable entrepreneurship can be. After a few years, I needed to supplement my income and began working as an executive and personal assistant. When I ultimately closed the jewelry business in 2011, I transitioned into assisting full-time. It wasn\u2019t the original plan, but it provided stability.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In 2014, I had my twins and continued working,\u00a0while navigating the new demands of motherhood. I loved being a mom, but I always missed building something creative of my own. In February 2022, my son was diagnosed with a rare genetic condition,\u00a0with no cure \u2013 Alpha-1.\u00a0That moment shifted everything. By November of that same year, I launched Kids of Queens. It was my way of turning uncertainty into action \u2014 combining my background in fashion, my desire to create again and my commitment to funding research and uplifting kids who are navigating challenges of their own.\u00a0<\/p>\n

QNS: Describe your son. What are his favorite sports, TV shows, video games?\u00a0<\/p>\n

LC: Lucas keeps life interesting. He\u2019s one of the most curious people I know, and I\u2019m constantly encouraging him to never stop asking questions. He somehow hears everything \u2014 even from across the apartment \u2014 and he doesn\u2019t miss a beat. He\u2019s sharp, observant and incredibly perceptive.\u00a0<\/p>\n

He loves football, baseball and basketball, and follows his favorite players closely. He insisted on sharing ten of his favorite athletes, but I\u2019ll include a few here: Michael Jordan, Kyrie Irving, Julius Erving, Justin Jefferson, Lamar Jackson. He loves Adam Sandler and watching the TV show, \u2018The Middle.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n

When he\u2019s not on the court or watching Netflix, he likes to play NBA 2K, Madden NFL and MLB The Show video games. And he can talk your ear off about whatever topic currently has his attention. At school, he gravitates toward math, and of course\u2026gym class.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Lucas has ADHD, and we talk openly about it in our home. I remind him often that many successful entrepreneurs and creative thinkers have ADHD, and that the way his brain works is something special.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0His energy, curiosity and ability to hyper-focus on things he loves are strengths.\u00a0<\/p>\n

QNS: What do your children think about Kids of Queens? Do they help out?\u00a0<\/p>\n

LC:\u00a0My son\u00a0is incredibly supportive of Kids of Queens, though\u00a0he\u2019s\u00a0made it clear we need to add caps to the lineup.\u00a0My daughter Ella\u00a0is always down to\u00a0sport\u00a0a hoodie,\u00a0and has been super supportive of the brand,\u00a0as well. She often has great ideas for photography, social media posts, etc. They both double as models when I need content.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Ella and Lucas. Photo courtesy of Kids of Queens\/Lindsay Colbus
\n\"\"<\/a>Ella showing off a Kids of Queens sweater. Photo courtesy of Kids of Queens\/Lindsay Colbus<\/p>\n

Ella\u00a0probably attends\u00a0more markets than Lucas, but\u00a0both of them\u00a0ran the\u00a0kids\u2019\u00a0prize vending machine at the Ditmars Halloween Parade in October\u00a0(in Astoria)\u00a0and earned some real money.\u00a0That\u2019s\u00a0when I discovered Lucas is a pretty strong closer \u2014 he upsold multiple customers on beanies on a 65-degree day! Entirely on his own initiative.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Photo courtesy of Kids of Queens\/Lindsay Colbus
\n\"\"<\/a>Lindsay and Ella. Photo courtesy of Kids of Queens\/Lindsay Colbus<\/p>\n

QNS: How did motherhood change the trajectory of your life?\u00a0<\/p>\n

LC:\u00a0Motherhood changed everything, starting from the very beginning. My pregnancy was a surprise \u2014 and then we found out it was twins. It was technically\u00a0high risk, but it went incredibly smoothly and was surprisingly uneventful. We were preparing the nursery, folding tiny clothes, getting ready for what felt like a steady transition into parenthood.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Then, just one month before they were born, our apartment caught fire!\u00a0<\/p>\n

Suddenly, we were packing what we could salvage, figuring out where we would live and making decisions while I was eight months pregnant. We moved out not knowing when we would be able to return. There was no clear timeline; no certainty about what rebuilding would look like. It was disorienting and overwhelming \u2014 not exactly how we envisioned welcoming twins into the world \u2014 but we focused on the immediate needs in front of us and took it one day at a time.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Astoria community showed up in ways I never could have imagined. Local friends organized a GoFundMe, and members of a local Astoria mommy group called Momally<\/a> coordinated donations for us. I was a complete stranger to most of these women, yet they made sure we had what we needed for two newborns. It was incredible. It was one of those moments where you realize just how strong a community can be.\u00a0<\/p>\n

QNS: Your energy and ability to juggle family life, a demanding job, coaching \u2013 and, of course, your powerful commitment to your mission through Kids of Queens \u2014 is truly amazing! What\u2019s your secret?\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n

LC: I work full-time outside of Kids of Queens, as a chief of staff. In many ways, my job is to help run someone else\u2019s life, which comes pretty naturally to me as a mom who constantly has 20 balls in the air at any given time. It requires organization, adaptability and the ability to think a few steps ahead \u2014 skills that carry over into everything else I do.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Coaching is another major part of my life.\u00a0Both of my kids play sports, so I\u2019m often switching between coach mode and mom mode.\u00a0Being on the sidelines as both a mom and a coach is complicated.\u00a0You have to work harder to make sure you\u2019re not too tough on your own kids, but also not going easy on them.\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0a constant exercise in balance and fairness, and\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0made me more intentional about how I lead.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Beyond basketball, I stay involved in local events and community initiatives whenever I can. Community has shown up for my family, and giving back feels natural.\u00a0<\/p>\n

QNS: Why are sports so important for kids?\u00a0<\/p>\n

LC: I\u2019m a firm believer that athletics play an important role in helping kids build confidence, resilience and teamwork. Not every kid shines in the classroom, and sports can be the place where they discover their strengths and feel successful. Supporting those programs is one way we can invest in local kids.\u00a0<\/p>\n

I coach CYO (Catholic Youth Organization) basketball for both boys\u2019 and girls\u2019 teams and also serve as an AAU boys coach. It\u2019s one of the most rewarding commitments I have. Watching kids grow their confidence and seeing them realize they\u2019re capable of more than they thought is incredibly powerful. In 2025, I was named a semifinalist for The Junior Knicks Coach of the Year, which was an unexpected honor and a reflection of the kids I get to work with.\u00a0<\/p>\n

QNS: Describe your daily mindset and \u201cmantra.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

LC:\u00a0I\u00a0wouldn\u2019t\u00a0say I have a perfect mantra, but I believe in forward motion. When something feels overwhelming, I try to focus on the next right step instead of the whole staircase.\u00a0Take action, even if it\u2019s small.\u00a0Momentum builds confidence.\u00a0<\/p>\n

QNS: You say that you deal with difficult situations by taking action. What advice can you give other parents who are struggling with similar challenges?\u00a0<\/p>\n

LC:\u00a0You\u00a0can\u2019t\u00a0control everything, but you can control your response.\u00a0I\u2019ve\u00a0found that sitting in fear keeps you stuck.\u00a0I\u2019ve\u00a0been there.\u00a0Taking action, even if imperfect, moves you forward.\u00a0<\/p>\n

QNS: Why did you become an Astoria fan and why is your neighborhood a great place to raise a family?\u00a0<\/p>\n

LC:\u00a0I originally moved to Queens to \u2018save money\u2019 after living in Manhattan right out of college. The plan was always temporary. I figured I\u2019d head back into the city after a year or two. But then I found my people. I built friendships, routines and eventually a life here. Twenty-one years later, I\u2019m still here.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Astoria has this rare combination of neighborhood closeness and big\u00a0city energy. I still live above my landlord, who, for years, would make me spanakopita and other Greek dishes. That kind of connection stays with you. I love talking to\u00a0neighbors who\u00a0raised their families here decades ago and hearing their stories.\u00a0There\u2019s\u00a0a real sense of continuity \u2014 like\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0part of something that stretches across generations.\u00a0<\/p>\n

My kids are growing up surrounded by different cultures, languages and traditions. We can get almost any cuisine at any hour, and that exposure shapes how they see the world.\u00a0<\/p>\n

And there\u2019s hustle here. So many small businesses. So many people building something for their families. Queens doesn\u2019t always get the spotlight, but it has heart. For me, it\u2019s the perfect place to raise kids \u2014 grounded, diverse, hardworking and deeply community-minded.\u00a0<\/p>\n

At the end of the day, supporting Kids of Queens means supporting kids and strengthening the community around them.\u00a0<\/p>\n

To celebrate this feature, QNS.com<\/a> readers will receive 20% off their order at KidsofQueens.com<\/a>,\u00a0along with a complimentary Kids of Queens sticker\u00a0+\u00a0pin pack (while supplies last)\u00a0\u2014\u00a0using promotion code JOINTHEBLOCK at checkout\u00a0(one use per customer).\u00a0<\/p>\n

The offer is valid until 11:59\u00a0p.m.\u00a0on\u00a0Monday, March 3,\u00a0and may not be combined with any other promotions.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"When\u00a0Lindsay\u00a0Colbus, a\u00a0busy\u00a0Astoria mom of twins (now 11), learned that her then 7-year-old son Lucas was diagnosed with Alpha-1…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":144884,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[60734,9,24,63,122,124,123,25019],"class_list":["post-144883","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-queens","tag-kids-of-queens","tag-new-york","tag-new-york-city","tag-nyc","tag-queens","tag-queens-headlines","tag-queens-news","tag-streetwear"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/144883","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=144883"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/144883\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/144884"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=144883"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=144883"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=144883"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}