This article was written with the help of June Adaptive, experts in adaptive clothing and fashion.
Clothes are one of the best gifts you can give someone. Everyone wears clothes and the best pieces of fashion are useful and make you feel and look good. Unfortunately, getting dressed can be a challenge for people with physical difficulties. But it doesn’t have to be – if a shoe is hard to put on, you can change the shoe. This is one of the many reasons adaptive fashion exists. Adaptive fashion is clothing with innovative features that make dressing easier for people who live with disabilities. If you or someone you love has trouble getting dressed, the below gift ideas would be sure favourites.
Pro tip: Giftcards
Before we get started, here’s a quick pro-tip for giving adaptive fashion gifts: fashion choices are personal ways to express yourself and one of the biggest challenges in buying them for others is trying to put yourself in their “shoes”. For that reason, gift cards are an easy way to show them you’ve thought about their unique needs without imposing your own style choices. They make great last-minute gifts too. No one will know if you bought it right before your holiday gathering 😉
You can buy a June Adaptive Giftcard here!
Grip Socks
Socks make the best gift and grip socks are the next level for people prone to falls & tripping. Grip socks have a non-slip tread pattern at the bottom for better stability. Although most grip socks in the market are fuzzy and made for lounging, we finally found some that are great for everyday fashion with contemporary colours and styling.
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Premium anti-slip socks to go along with your child’s wildest adventures! These are a parent favourite because of their comfort and durability.
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Premium anti-slip socks made for daily comfort. The unique non-slip “tread” pattern grippers along the sole maximize traction and minimize accidental slips.
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Premium anti-slip ankle socks made for daily comfort. The unique non-slip “tread” pattern grippers along the sole maximize traction and minimize accidental slips.
Tops with Alternative Closure Placements
For those with limited arm movement who need assistance getting dressed, tops with alternative closure placements will make their mornings a snap! Back overlap tops have hidden snap closures that are strategically placed at the shoulders, allowing this adaptable shirt to be easily secured by caregivers. The overlap at the back opens up completely at the back, so there is no need to raise your arm and wiggle into a shirt.
Some of our favourites include:
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A 2 pack soft, crew neck t-shirt made for your every day. This tee is designed with a full open back, making it easy to slip on without ever raising or lowering your arms. Snap closures are strategically placed at the shoulders, eliminating any pressure points and allowing this adaptable shirt to be easily secured by caregivers.
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A soft, flowy shirt designed with a full open back, making it easy to slip on without ever raising your arms or fastening the front buttons!
Closures can also be seamlessly placed on the side. The key to these designs is the careful placement of the closures so that they are easy to put on while remaining fashionable.
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A classic long-sleeve designed with snap closures all along the side and raglan seam, allowing you to fully open and slip on this shirt without ever raising your arms!
Magnet Jewellery
Tiny jewellery clasps are annoying for everyone and especially for those with limited hand dexterity. Jewellery with magnetic closures allows for someone special to sparkle with just a snap of a magnet. The best presents come in small packages.
Gift as individual pieces or a matching set with:
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Say goodbye to frustratingly tiny clasps and loops! Thanks to the beautiful gold-coloured magnetic closure, you can easily add a pop of colour and shimmer to any outfit in just a snap with the Whistler necklace.
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Say goodbye to frustratingly tiny clasps and loops! Thanks to the beautiful gold-coloured magnetic closure, you can easily add a pop of colour and shimmer to any outfit in just a snap with the Whistler bracelet.
Zippered Shoes
Get out the door quicker with these zippered shoes! Zippered shoes eliminate the need to tie shoelaces and instead have a zipper that opens up the shoe completely. Be sure to look for ones with a removable memory foam insole for all-day comfort and the option to insert custom orthotics. Lightweight shoes are important for mobility and anti-slip soles help provide solid traction on slick surfaces.
Our favorites are:
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Designed by an Occupational Therapist, an ultra-comfortable and lightweight walking shoe that zips completely on the side, allowing your kids to slide into their shoes quicker and out the door sooner!
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Designed by an Occupational Therapist, an ultra-comfortable and supportive walking shoe that zips completely open at the back, allowing you to slide into your shoes quicker and out the door sooner!
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Designed by an Occupational Therapist, an ultra-comfortable and supportive walking shoe that zips completely open, allowing you to slide into your shoes quicker and out the door sooner!
Recovery wear
For people who have recently had surgery or need easy access to medical devices that are usually covered by clothes, we love these “recovery pieces” – styles that open in strategic places so that lines and tubes can be reached without needing to undress completely.
We love this rain jacket with a magnetic zipper for easy closure. It also has snaps along the arm for easy access to your arms. This makes a perfect layering piece for doctor visits.
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This stylish top for men has zippers on the arms and sides for easy access to the body during medical exams
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Slip this soft sweatshirt on with ease; it’s designed with zippers along the sides and sleeves reducing any painful arm lifting when putting it on. This shirt is great for post-surgery recovery (with easy access to IV lines) or visits to the doctor’s office. The long zipper pull tabs allow for one-handed dressing while the half-zip collar adds additional comfort.
If you or your loved one are sporting surgical drains, try out this comfy robe for post-surgery drain management. It has a detachable drain belt, so it can be removed after healing. It is made out of super-soft modal fabric that feels great and won’t irritate sensitive areas.
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Introducing your go-to lounge piece; this robe is both luxurious and functional!
Seated Fashion Bottoms
Finally, wheelchair users or people who sit most of the day will really benefit from pants designed specifically for them that are comfortable and easy to put on and take off while seated.
Look for bottoms that have a seamless back and pockets removed to prevent pressure sores. Extra-long inseams provide enough length while seated. An extended front zipper fly makes it easier to grip. A flexible waistband provides a comfortable seated fit.
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Ultra-comfortable and sleek jeans specially designed for incredible seated comfort.
People who remain seated for most of the day might also enjoy pants with back overlaps. These pants allow for easy assisted dressing while remaining seated. They have open back and snap closures at the waistband that can be easier secured by caregivers. Look for bottoms with internal grip loops for easier pull-up dressing and adjustable hem for a sure fit.
Our favourite is:
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Our classic, super-soft cargo pants allow for easy assisted dressing, even if you’re seated! These pants are designed with an open back and snap closures at the waistband that can be easily secured by caregivers. It features convenient side pockets, inner grip loops for easier pull-up dressing, and an adjustable hem for a custom fit.
We hope we gave you a few ideas of great gifts for your loved ones or for your own wishlist! Happy Holidays!
A big thanks to June Adaptive for bringing these neat adaptive clothes to our attention!
June Adaptive is a one-stop-shop of contemporary clothing for people who live with mobility challenges. They ship to both the US and Canada, as they are Canadian startup. They offer a free return policy and currently offer free shipping with orders over $180.
To learn more please visit: www.juneadaptive.com
Follow June Adaptive at @juneadaptive on:
2 Responses
What about a front hook bra that is easy to use and comes in larger sizes?
Hi Lillian,
Thank you for your comment! We have a few front hook bras. Our most popular one is our Pocketed Bra with Front Closure.
Please take a peek at the below link.
https://www.juneadaptive.com/products/pocketed-bra-with-front-closure
It goes up to 3XL (42/44).
Is this what you are looking for? Happy to answer any questions directly through email at hello@juneadaptive.com.
Looking forward to connecting with you,
Wendy