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Hello Readers,

It is with much regret that we share with you all the passing of Deniz Eskisan, who was a loving member of the Able Zine family.

A full length photograph of Deniz Eskisan, a male model with cropped dark hair, dark eyebrows and a thin moustache. Deniz is in his powered wheelchair holding open a copy of Able Zine Issue 1 on his lap. He is wearing a braille collared white shirt and knitted cream trousers with geometric coloured patterns. The set environment looks like a bedroom with a yellow rug on the floor and a free standing wardrobe with bright clothing to the left of him. In a white banner graphic on the left hand side reads the text: RIP Deniz Eskisan.

Deniz was a vibrant, bubbly, uplifting and gentle person who shared his experiences of disability and mental health to be a beacon for others in dark times. Many people connected to Deniz through his content. He often filmed himself talking and sharing a meal with his followers who he called “his beautiful butterflies”. His videos offered a moment of mindfulness, support and connection, for those struggling, and a reprieve from the fast pace of social media.

Deniz modelled for us in Issue 2 and was constantly encouraging and championing the magazine behind the scenes. In one of our last conversations, he shared his wish to be on the cover of a future issue. Deniz was deeply passionate about fashion and style. However, his aspirations to be seen and included within the fashion and modelling industry were met with resistance, due to the ableism, the lack of opportunity and the lack of inclusive vision we know pervades the industry and the gatekeepers that guard it.

Despite these challenges, Deniz graduated with a Bsc in psychology and MSc in Applied Psychology in Fashion. He was an artist, a creative and he leaves behind him a legacy of courage, strength and kindness.

As the founder and editor of Able Zine, I have often been distracted from the importance of this project, by the challenges of making it. In a world that normalises disposability, I lost sight of the significance of the legacy we were creating; a way to record and recognise the contributions of those marginalised by inequality and inaccessibility. A place to elevate ourselves and our community, physically creating space that no one else will give us.

Someone kindly reminded me that Able Zine is a disability archive. Whether I stop working on it or can only manage to do things sporadically, that fact will always remain. I want Deniz’s image to live on, and I know it can because the work we have created is timeless and always relevant.

So, I am planning a special reprint of Issue 2 with new cover art of Deniz, in collaboration with one of the best artists I know, Jen White-Johnson. All proceeds from the sales of Issue 2 will go toward Deniz’s fundraiser for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

I want to see Deniz and this issue in museums, university libraries, coffee tables and book shops around the world. His life deserves to be remembered as a disabled ancestor and oracle, and not forgotten.

But I need your help!

If you’ve been a supporter in the past, doing one or both of these two things will give us a chance to make this a reality, and give Able Zine a future.

We are hosting a online fundraiser for the issue reprint, because self-publishing costs are super high since we last printed and we’ve never operated for profit. Donations will help to get us printed faster, give us more flexibility to print larger quantities, and support the work we do and have previously done throughout the years

A fundraiser graphic featuring a QR code. It says “Scan to donate to Claudia’s fundraiser “Able Zine Issue 2 Reprint”.

Pre-orders for the issue are also live on the Able Zine website! So if you are one of the people that’s asked about restocks in the past or has never purchased a copy, please put in an order ASAP so we can afford to do the print run.

If you’re a brand or business that would like to discuss press or partnerships, please also reach out. I’d love to hear from you.

I’d lastly just like to say thank you so much to the people who keep Able Zine alive in their words of encouragement, likes, reposts and shares. It’s a scary thing to ask for support and action. I know that as a community, we have so many vital and urgent causes that need our attention and mutual aid. So any support is hugely appreciated.

Thank you <3

Claudia Rose [EIC]

A birds-eye view photograph of Able Zine sat open on a wooden table. On the left side of the double page spread we see photographs of a miniature accessible office space and handmade furniture. O the right is a full bleed image of Deniz Eskisan in his power chair, he is where smiling and wearing a white collared shirt with black buttons and there is braille embellishment on the collar.

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