The UK is slowly catching up with the US and its options for adaptive clothing. We now have a selection of fantastic brands to choose from on the high street and online. However, there is limited awareness, and some people don’t know what is available to them.
With over 15% of the global population experiencing some form of disability, we must do more to raise awareness so that everyone has access to adaptive clothing.
But what is adaptive clothing?
Adaptive clothing is designed specifically for people with physical disabilities. Men, women and children included as well as the elderly or people who are recovering from surgery. Designed to help the wearer dress with ease or can be dressed by their carer. Switching buttons for poppers, velcro or magnetic fastenings, reducing leg length for amputees. Choosing fabrics for comfort and hygiene whilst still looking classy and making the wearer feel good.
Adaptive apparel has come such a long way on the high street to how it was a few years ago. Some big fashion brands now have an adaptive clothing section on their websites, but there are also some great up and coming small brands that everyone should know.
That’s why here at Ucan2 magazine, we have gone on a hunt to track them down so that you have all your options in one place.
Where to buy adaptive clothing in the UK
1. Optivus UK
2. Bealies Adaptive Wear
3. Unhidden
4. Able2Wear
5. Tommy Hilfiger
6. Bombini Tribe
7. Elba London
1. Optivus UK
Optivus is a streetwear-inspired brand offering adapted clothing for men, women and children. Conceived by a mother wanting to give her son trendy fashion choices whilst reducing the stress of dressing and discomfort that standard clothing caused. Their goal is to “make their users valued, empowering self-esteem and self-acceptance by rendering a treasured experience.”
You can see their range over on Instagram.
2. Bealies Adaptive Wear
Bealies Adaptive Wear is the place to go for your adaptive joggers for wheelchair users. The brainchild of Caron Mcluckie whose son suffered a spinal cord stroke in 2016, who couldn’t find joggers with fly zip openings to easily self catheterise. From this Bealies was born, where she now joggers look great but gives the wearers dignity and self-confidence.
Read the full story of how Bealie’s was found here.
Go check out their Instagram.
3. Unhidden
Unhidden throws out the pyjama’s with their adaptive clothing for men, women and fantastic homewares, instilling confidence and pride in the disabled community. Founded by Victoria Jenkins after a chance encounter with a woman in the hospital who struggled to remove her clothing when the doctors came round, restricted to wearing pyjama’s and loungewear but wanted to wear nice clothes. Unhidden, was created to give dignity and confidence back to the people who ‘normal’ clothing didn’t work for.
Find them on Instagram.
4. Able2Wear
Able2Wear has been developing adaptive clothing for over 25 years and is the longest established supplier of wheelchair clothing. They work closely with wheelchair users, carers and professionals to bring you their unique collection of garments. Designed to bring confidence, style and comfort to the wearer.
Pop over to their Instagram.
5. Tommy Hilfiger
Tommy Hilfiger is one of the world’s leading designer lifestyle brands. But not as widely known for its adaptive clothing, which first began in 2016 for children and then extended the year after to include adults. Its website now has a ‘shop by solution’ section where you can explore adaptive modifications.
Follow them over on Instagram.
6. Bombini Tribe
Bombini Tribe currently offers adaptive clothing for men, but adaptive clothing for women is coming soon, along with adaptive clothing for kids. The owner Gary Scholes started for his rugby team and close friends and now delivers all over the UK.
Follow them on Instagram.
7. Elba London
Forget the fiddly bra fastenings with Elba London, bringing you stylish lingerie that offers front magnetic fastenings to enable people with dexterity or mobility limitations. Elba is ‘able’ backwards and, Elba London wants everyone to be able to access lingerie that is not just accessible but also comfortable and looks good.
Pop over to their Instagram.
There you have it, some of the most fabulous adaptive clothing brands for disabled people from around the UK. You must agree there is plenty of choices out there.
