53 Places to Buy Adaptive Clothing
Where to buy adaptive clothing for people with disabilities
People with disabilities have long endured the struggle to zip, button, tie and snap apparel just so they can start the day, and clothing designers have finally noticed as more clothiers than ever offer adaptive clothing. Perhaps one of the finest innovations in assistive technology, adaptive clothing enables disabled people to sport the latest fashions and empowers individuals to tend to special needs with dignity. Here, we offer an overview of what adaptive clothing means and list 53 places to buy adaptive clothing for disabled people.
What is adaptive clothing?
Adaptive clothing is apparel specially designed to help those who experience difficulty dressing. Designers create adaptive clothing for a wide range of people and needs: men, women, children, seniors and people with disabilities, including wheelchair users and those with autism. Adaptive clothing makes it easier to get dressed, and it can make it easier to care for special needs.
With adaptive clothing, people with disabilities can enjoy greater independence and avoid the pain that’s sometimes associated with putting on traditional clothes. And, with more designers hopping aboard the adaptive clothing train, adaptive clothing can help wearers achieve a stylish look that lends a greater sense of confidence.
Adaptive clothing examples
Adaptive clothing is designed with unique user needs and conveniences in mind. Here are some examples of adaptive clothing:
- Pants, shirts and dresses that open at the back or side and feature magnetic closures (often, “traditional” buttons are sewn in the front to maintain a fashionably inclusive look)
- Shoes that open far enough for wearers to step into them (so they do not need to force them on) and feature Velcro closures
- Pants that are cut higher in the back and lower in the front for sitting comfortably – ideal for wheelchair users – or constructed from rivet-less stretch fabric with elastic waistbands, front pockets, wide legs and extra loops or straps. Some styles also facilitate restroom use
- Shirts and pajamas that feature access for medical equipment, such as G-tubes and oxygen lines
- Reversible clothing: frontward to backward, inside and out
- Sensory-friendly clothing: soft fabrics, tagless, compression and flat seams
- Orthotic-ready shoes
- One-piece outfits
- Pica clothing
Where to buy adaptive clothing
The following retailers sell adaptive clothing for a variety of needs, from adaptive pants and footwear to shirts and adaptive clothing for wheelchair users.
Target sells adaptive clothing for kids, women, and men. A store employee who is a mother of a child with disabilities approached her bosses with the idea of designing and selling adaptive clothing. New items are being added, including adaptive Halloween costumes in 2019. Target also introduced a Pillowfort line of adaptive home products.
Friendly Shoes creates comfortable, stylish and functional adaptive shoes that are easy to put on and take off. The shoes discretely accommodate adaptive needs of all abilities without sacrificing fashion, support or comfort to promote safer mobility and independence.
MagnaReady sells magnetic fastening shirts for women, men, and boys and magnetic fly pants for men. Founder Maura Horton was inspired by her husband’s struggle for independence with fastening shirts after he developed Parkinson’s disease at an early age. A donation is made to the Michael J Fox Foundation with each purchase. Pictured here are MagnaReady’s Navy Knit Fleece Long Sleeve “Dillon” Jacket and Grey Blue Softly Brushed Flannel Long Sleeve “Heights” Shirt, both with magnetic closures.
Tommy Hilfiger has a Tommy Adaptive line of clothing for kids, women, and men. Outstanding members of the disability community are involved in promoting the collection, including Jeremiah Josey, an autistic chef, and Paralympic gold medalist Jeremy Campbell.
Zappos has adaptive clothing for kids, women and men and features fashionable and functional clothing from a variety of brands. It includes shoes, seated wear, medical wear, intimates, sensory friendly, and more. Zappos has assembled an advisory council for their adaptive clothing line that help guide selections. The company also offers an Adaptive Clothing Coloring Book.
FFORA stands for Fashion for All. They design fashionable wheelchair accessories including bags and cupholders and also carry purses and hats. Founder Lucy Jones was inspired by a cousin with disabilities to look at disability needs first when designing products. Wheelchair users are involved in advising, designing, promoting and all other aspects of the creation process.
Etsy is a marketplace for unique, handcrafted goods, and several sellers offer hard-to-find and custom adaptive clothing for men, women and kids. For example, BeEasyKid sells adaptive pants for braces, sweatshirts with hidden Velcro closures and coats and shirts with magnetic closures (pictured). Search Etsy for “adaptive clothing” and related terms to find popular products.
Buck & Buck sells adaptive clothing and footwear for women and men at home and in care centers. The site allows customers to shop by need. Most items are manufactured in the U.S. Custom alterations, free labelling and free hemming are available.
Adaptive Clothing Showroom sells adaptive clothing, footwear, and accessories from a variety of brands for kids, women, and men. Clothing is especially designed for those with limited mobility, those who are bedridden, and those who use a wheelchair. Site offers helpful assisted dressing tips.
IZ Adaptive sells women’s, men’s, and unisex styles. Founder Izzy Camilleri designs high-fashion tops, bottoms, and coats for both seated and standing frames. IZ Adaptive seeks input for their designs from individuals with disabilities and features them as models and in their campaigns, including The Perfect Fit. They recently released the Game Changer Seamless Back Jeans for men and women, created after years of research and development using IZ Seamless Technology™ (patent pending).
Able2 Wear sells pants, jackets, ponchos, capes, footwear and accessories for women and men who use wheelchairs or others looking for essential clothing with a proper fit. Some styles are waterproof. Able2Wear consults with wheelchairs users, caregivers, and professionals when choosing items for their collection. They also offer tailor made clothing.
CareZips® sells patented wash-and-wear unisex pants and pajamas designed for daytime and nighttime wear for adults with incontinence. The pants feature three zippers and are designed to open from the waist to the knees, offering a dignified way to dress and undress.
Dignity Pajamas sells easy on, easy off pajamas for women and men. Designed by clothing designer founder, Franne, who was looking for a comfortable, dignified option for her parents when they needed hospice care, these pajamas feature soft materials, attractive prints, and open backs with Velcro closure. This site has a blog.
BILLY Footwear sells shoes for toddlers, kids, women, and men. After co-founder Billy Price had an accidental fall that resulted in paralysis from the chest down he became vested in finding ways to get dressed more easily. Collaboration with friend Darin Donaldson led to development of unique FlipTop Technology zipper shoes. The site also publishes a blog.
Reboundwear sells adaptive athletic wear for kids, women, and men. Clothing provides solutions for dressing issues following surgery or those with limited mobility due to other conditions. Site has a blog.
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