Challenges of Clothing for Disabled People: Seeking Feedback for Adaptive Clothing Line

Loose clothes and sleeves get caught in my mobility aids and more form fitting clothes become too snug the minute I try to move or have to sit 😭 and they also roll up when I sit 😅 It's difficult to find a happy medium

Footwear. My feet swell every day and shoes that start comfortable become unbearable. Socks. Diabetic soft top socks are great as they allow your legs to swell however once they have been worn a few times just become baggy and won't stay on correctly. I have motor issues with my hands and any form of button, clasp etc is really difficult. Zippers can be tough too as they join at the bottom where I cant see well, I always wish that jacket zippers started at the top! Good luck in your endeavour in challenging the standards in the fashion industry!

Binders that ride up and fold on themselves on chunky people. I'm kinda chunky and all the binders I've ever worn move around and fold up right at the bottom of my sternum. I always feel like I'm being crushed after half an hour.

Wire bras are the absolute worst for me now which has been hard. Thankfully I found wireless ones that still offer support.

I love punk/goth styles, but.. almost all clothing will trigger very sensitive nerves which can sieze up, so I just hate the feel of wearing anything anymore. I can only wear soft loose things these days, but even those bother me sometimes. I can't wear a bra because anything across my back hurts so I wear a stretchy slip when I go out but not long term. And it's difficult to sleep in anything.. pajamas dig into my armpits and hips, robe is nice and soft but shifts around too much, and wearing nothing at all is too cold! There's just no pleasing the irritation of messed up nerve endings.

Shoes are my issue!! I love a big heavy duty boot, like goth/alternative style....but due to parasthesia and allodyilnia in my feet and toes, wearing shoes actually hurts!!! I spend most of my time in slippers.....even when i go to peoples houses!!! So some cool outdoor slip on chunky alternative (extra wide feet) shoes would be amazing!!!

I can’t tie my shoes unless I sit down

I’m in my 20s and have always loved alternative, goth, punk, skater type styles. Since developing FM and CFS I’ve definitely had to change my wardrobe to favor soft, smooth, and stretchy clothes as opposed to my preferred fashion. I’ve become sensitive to clothing that puts any pressure against my rib cage, breasts, and abdominal area when I breathe (for example, I generally have to wear loose, no wire bras now. I also have difficulty wearing some of my favorite jeans that are higher waisted). Some punk / goth clothing can tend to be pretty heavy compared to more basic clothing and heavy or thick materials can sometimes cause issues for me since I’m more sensitive to how the material feels against my skin (or rubs against my skin) and any pressure from clothing (heavier clothes generally mean more pressure). As an example, I find lace too stretchy now, and I sometimes experience pain when the seams of clothes press or rub against my skin. I often find buttons pretty difficult and prefer clips, press buttons, or zippers (some zippers can be difficult to hold onto and zip too, but I have less issues with these than buttons). I’d say the biggest issue I have though is sensory friendly materials when looking for more style specific clothing. I need soft, smooth, and preferably slightly stretchy materials to feel comfortable. Lighter weight materials also help as well.

I wear whatever is warm, soft and loose. Nothing itchy!

I find most tops are too short. No matter how big a size I buy them, they always feel like they are riding up. They can be hanging off of me but still be too short. I'm average height. I want tops that go just past my hips.

Its just me and my husband at home so 80% of the time, Im not wearing clothes at all, I hate the texture, the extra heat, and just having another thing to wash. Not to mention how difficult it is for me to get clothes on and find any that are functional for me.

Some of the issues I've come across, other than everything you listed, are consistency in sizing/way it's made and the feeling of being trapped or suffocating because it's too snug in the upper arms, and neck areas. For instance on the sizing: I have bought the same size, and style in the same brand of clothing and they fit differently. Huge disappointment and irritation because I liked the original one I bought in the store, but not the ones I bought online. Being an overweight woman, I usually buy a size larger so I have breathing room in my shirts. Even though I do that I find the neck and upper arms are still too snug in some styles, especially crew neck T-shirts, and long-sleeved in all styles, particularly from the armpits to mid-triceps. The head hole on T-shirts needs to be about 1/2 inch bigger, in my opinion, as I usually end up cutting the neckline off, but don't like the look without it. I don't like scoop necks because they tend to fall off one shoulder and I cannot find V-necks with the graphics I like. I would like to buy button-up dress shirts, but I have never been able to find any that do not pull apart in the chest area without them being way too big in the lower stomach and waist area.

For me, all of what you mentioned, but also JACKETS BEING DESTROYED BY MY WHEELCHAIR WHEELS