Personal Connection - Susan Hess and Golftini support Breast Cancer Awareness

In the mid-2000s when Susan Hess was getting her Golftini women’s apparel brand off the ground, she didn’t have the funds to support Breast Cancer Awareness — a cause near and dear to her heart.

Instead, she would donate a skort with each order for clubs to raffle off. The proceeds would go to supporting organizations.

“From the beginning, I’ve been trying to do whatever I can,” said Hess, whose Chicago-based company has since risen to the top tier of the industry and is in over 1,000 golf shops across the U.S. “Now I have room to do more and have leaned into the cause, which I feel really good about.”

Golftini, which marks its 20th anniversary next year, is a fashion-forward golf line whose trendsetting skorts and other crossover items have made it a recognizable go-to brand in the U.S. and beyond.

Hess, who was 14 when her mother passed away from breast cancer, not only contributes to American Cancer Society research but donates a portion of the proceeds from all sales to various breast cancer organizations, focusing on “compassion until there is a cure.”

For the third consecutive year, Golftini has supported October Breast Cancer Awareness Month with a special “PINK” product capsule. This year’s grouping includes a hot pink jacket and skort; pink-and-white checkered pants with the words “check yourself” sewn inside; a black sweater with a hot pink martini embroidered on the sleeve; an oversized pink sweater that can be worn to play golf or with jeans for a night out; and a new pink hat with a breast cancer awareness logo.

As with all other Golftini pieces, a percentage of sales from this capsule will be donated to the cause, which is an added incentive for golf retailers to “deck their shops out in pink,” Hess said.

She also points out that every Golftini garment – regardless of style or color – sports the light pink martini logo in tribute to her mother. She has also been known to use Instagram for a “PSA moment” in hopes of further spreading awareness.

“I remind people to go get their mammograms, schedule them, take a friend,” Hess said. “It’s our mission to help people we can help, and to make a difference.”

Lisa Goulian Twiste has been the senior apparel writer at PGA Magazine for 25 years. The mother of four (and recent grandma) has also written for Entrepreneur.com and is a frequent contributor to New Jersey Business magazine.