The term “adaptive clothing” refers to clothing that is designed with a specific purpose in mind to make it easier for people with disabilities or other medical conditions to dress themselves with more independence. For example, clothing can be adapted to include velcro or magnetic fasteners instead of traditional closures such as buttons or zippers.
Where can I find adaptive clothing?
Below you will find companies featured in the adaptive dressing catalog that offer adaptive clothing, shoes, and/or accessories.
Victoria's Secret and PINK offer adaptive bras and panties that include features such as magnetic closures, front strap adjustors, and sensory-friendly fabrics.
Spoonie Threads was first developed by Pediatric Surgeon Dr. Julie Sanchez. In 2015, she was working with a mother of a child with autism who recently had a g-tube placed and was concerned about him pulling it out and keeping his clothes on. This led Dr. Sanchez to team up with fashion designer Saba Kamaras to create Spoonie Threads, a brand that offers adaptive clothing for those who may have an ostomy bag, tubes or ports, cancer, diabetes, or recovering from surgery.
Friendly Shoes was created by occupational therapist Joseph DiFrancisco MS, OT/L. Joseph worked with numerous clients who had difficulty donning footwear, which led him to develop a solution. As a shoe enthusiast, he wanted to ensure he created footwear that is easier to put on, comfortable, and fashionable.
No Limbits was created by a woman named Erica Cole who wanted to wear jeans but was unable to fit them over her prosthetic leg. She began cutting the leg off of the jeans and stuffing it into her socket, which led to uncomfortable sores. She then began to alter her pants to work for her by sewing zippers into the pant legs. This sparked the idea for No Limbits which later appeared on Shark Tank!
The Able Label was founded by Katie after witnessing her grandmother struggle to get herself dressed following a Parkinson's diagnosis. Her grandmother then needed assistance to dress and told her she felt as though she had lost her dignity. Katie was determined to find a solution for her grandmother, which led her to create The Able Label, a brand dedicated to designing functional and fashionable clothing.