The year was 2001, and the world of retail had women leaving the mall deflated by the anxiety and inefficiency of endless, isolated browsing. Clothing designer Carol Anderson began wondering if there was a way to better serve women by giving them the focus, help, and guidance they desired. She had a devoted following of women across the country, and thought if she could just circumvent the store process, by providing full, unedited collections directly to the women she designed for, shopping would forever be changed.

At the same time, management consultant Kimberly Inskeep had the realization that there was a growing need to help women fulfill their desires for a more flexible career amidst the growing demands of life. As Carol and Kimberly talked about how women needed both a better way to shop and a better way to work, an idea surfaced. Could these two needs be met by one solution? They asked ten like-minded friends to brainstorm with them and, although they didn’t know it at the time, they were quietly transforming the retail industry through what became The cabi Fashion Experience.

By bringing a uniquely styled clothing line to a home setting, women received an opportunity to hear about the hottest trends, and discover their true style in the company of close friends. Our trained cabi Stylists transform that looming question of “What do I wear?” into an occasion to enter one’s closet with a sense of boldness, confidence, and even fun. Our customers build functional wardrobes that are so completely “them,” while at the same time, supporting a woman as she builds a substantial career that lets her call her own shots.

During their early brainstorming sessions, there was one phrase Carol, Kimberly, and the ten cabi Founders kept in front of them as a source of inspiration: “…Affect lives through relationships.” This became cabi’s Creed. So much of retail is about just making another sale, and cabi set out to be much more than that. The opportunities to shop these days—whether online or at the mall—are endless, but the opportunity to form meaningful bonds between women is a unique part of The cabi Fashion Experience.

From 12 founding women to thousands of cabi Stylists today, it’s official: our women have changed the retail game. We’ve come together for a common purpose: developing a culture centered on women helping women—serving rather than selling, collaborating rather than competing, and transforming not transacting.

This transformative spirit has caused a ripple of goodness that extends so much further than one community. Cabi’s living legacy is not only the lives transformed in living rooms across the U.S., Canada, and the U.K., but also the women’s lives transformed around the world. Believing that true beauty is found when we live selflessly and give generously, The Heart of cabi Foundation is dedicated to serving and empowering women in need, providing entrepreneurial opportunities for women in developing countries in collaboration with Opportunity International.

From humble beginnings with a dozen visionaries, to additional leadership joining the team to serve a vast network of inspired and empowered women, cabi’s story is a story of connection. Together is how we can help one another, whether that’s instilling a sense of exhilaration into the art of getting dressed, or giving a woman the tools and confidence to start her own business. Our true style—whether in fashion or in life—is discovered when we’re connected.