What is Adaptive Clothing and Where to Buy Cool Adaptive Clothing?

What is adaptive clothing?
According to the machine that is Google, adaptive clothing is clothing designed for people who have difficulty dressing due to age, disability, or general lack of mobility.

Thanks to a recent column in the fashion section of the New York Times, more and more people are becoming familiar with the idea of adaptive clothing. This may apply directly to you, or it may be more applicable to a family member who now struggles to get dressed without help. Companies that offer adaptive clothing provide more than just clothing; they bring independence.

Now that you’ve heard about adaptive clothing, you’ll never forget it. If you’ve been dying to find some, we’ve got you covered.

Where can I find cool adaptive clothing?
Whatever you think of Kim Kardashian, she’s always been at the forefront of inclusivity, and Skims doesn’t just offer lingerie in a variety of skin tones and plus sizes, the brand also offers products that cater to adaptive needs. Something as simple as a bra front clasp can make it easier for those with mobility issues to fit.

Tommy Hilfiger
Tommy Hilfiger offers adaptive clothing for men, women, and children.Skims pieces show that something as simple as a front button can be a game changer, and Tommy options take accessibility to the next level. This button-down shirt comes with magnetic snaps for those who have trouble with buttons. It’s just one example of thoughtful, user-centered design. Need more? How about jeans with Velcro and a magnetic placket? These jeans are loose fitting and come with a button and loop adjustable waist as well as an internal pull tab.

Greasy Chicks.
We’ve seen some of the mainstream brands working on accessibility, and now it’s time to dive into some of the brands that focus entirely on adaptive clothing. As you can imagine, there are countless options that aren’t terribly attractive, but they get the job done. Here in the land of poplin, we want you to look and feel your best every day. So, this is all about doing that part.Some of the options at Slick Chicks are both practical and cool. Adaptive underwear comes in several versions with side Velcro closures for women who sit or lie down. You can purchase a pair from the brand along with your other purchases, or you can buy a pair on Nordstrom.com. For those of you who are bothered by labels, the options don’t have labels either. The adaptive hoodie above is genius! The dropped sleeve holes make getting it on and off much easier than you might think, and the magnetic zipper is much easier for those with limited hand dexterity. Speaking of universal standards, this style is reminiscent of the sweatshirts the brand produced years ago that anyone could wear and feel great about.

Izzy.
Fashion designer Izzy Camilleri creates custom pieces for clients in wheelchairs. The experience opened her eyes to the challenges faced by women with limited mobility and IZ was born. The brand has had some successes and some failures, but I love that it exists. I especially love this timeless leather jacket. In a genius innovation, this jacket has a zipper on the back that is both stylish and functional. If desired, the user can unzip it into two parts for easy removal. Smaller brands like this one release new products on a regular basis, so if you need something in the future, keep this site in mind as new products may appear.

I’ve learned a lot from my research in this area and I hope it’s useful to you as well. In order for these lines to flourish, we need to support them by sharing them with friends and family and/or buying some of our own. I love this evolution in fashion and I vote for it to continue.