Adaptive clothing

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Adaptive clothing is clothing designed around the needs and abilities of people with varying degrees of disability, including congenital disabilities, acquired disabilities (as the result of an injury, illness or accident) and temporary disabilities, as well as physical disabilities. Adaptive clothing is influenced by factors such as age, disability type(s), level of independence, mobility, and dexterity, as well as whether a person requires help when dressing, such as from a caregiver.^[1]

Despite common misconception, adaptive clothing is utilised by people with a wide range of disabilities, ranging from wheelchair users and people with more visible disabilities to those whose disabilities are not as visible, but still find themselves limited by the construction of typical clothing. Adaptive design, a core component of adaptive clothing design and construction, proactively addresses these foreseen limitations by adapting clothing to the wearer,^[2] benefitting both them and carers or healthcare professionals to be more efficient, as well as preventing potential back and shoulder injuries.^[3]

Types of adaptions[]

Adaptive clothing typically incorporates flat seams to reduce friction, and discreet adaptations that provide an outward appearance as consistent with fashion norms as possible. These adaptations may include easy-access snap fasteners and velcro fastenings, fabric that stretches in one or both directions, clothing design with room to accommodate incontinence aids, a longer rise in the back of trousers to accommodate wheelchair users, and an elasticated waist for increased comfort and easier dressing.

Individuals with limited or no dexterity may experience difficulty in manipulating certain fastenings, such as buttons and zippers. For this reason, it is common for adaptive clothing to utilize velcro or magnetic closures in the place of closures that would require more dexterity.

Similarly, disabled people whose mobility limits them from engaging in the typical full range of motion commonly experience difficulty when dressing in clothing that must be pulled up from the feet or pulled over the head; as such, adaptive clothing may feature hidden flap-openings or additional closures that allow the garment itself to be pulled on without having to bend over or reach up. These may take the form of velcro flaps at the neck and shoulders, allowing the neckline to expand when the garment is pulled down over the head. The same adjustments may also be made for shoes and other accessories, with velcro closures being the most common feature in adaptive shoes.^[4][5]

Examples[]

Magnetic closures[]

For individuals suffering from Parkinson's and other disabilities that affect motor skills like dexterity, magnetic closures have emerged as a great solution across multiple garments.

The use of magnets as garment closures was likely invented by Erico Grunberger, who was granted a patent for "magnetic fastening devices" in 2002. However, the patent expired in 2018.^[6] In 2012, fashion entrepreneur Ian Stikeleather was interviewed about his new, innovative line of modular clothing, which launched on the Kickstarter crowd-funding platform and featured magnetic closures and attachment points.^[7] In 2012, Stikeholder had his patent approved for a dress shirt with magnetic closure down the front, at the wrists, and around the collar (where a removable hood would be attached).

Later, Maura Horton, who is often credited with the invention of magnetic closure clothing, would go on to design and patent a similar design to Stikeholder's dress-shirt. Without magnets around the shirt collar, this design was simple enough and different enough from Stikeholder's design to be approved for a patent as well. Horton then branded and licensed out this design, which became the most commercially successful implementation of magnetic closures in clothing to date. The technology was licensed for numerous lines of adaptive clothing by brands including Van Heusen and MagnaClick.^[8][9] Magnetic closures again came to the forefront of adaptive clothing when Tommy Hilfiger featured magnetic closures prominently in the launch of their adaptive clothing line in the Spring of 2018.^[10] Silvert's Adaptive Clothing & Footwear also carry magnetic closure dress shirts for both men and women.^[11]

References[]