Knowledge Base
Adaptive clothing ranges
Adaptive clothing is designed to make dressing easier, and so may have easier fastenings (velcro instead of buttons for example), or access or pouches to hold medical devices.
Some clothing stores have also moved away from using sewn in neck labels in their clothes to make them more sensory friendly, such as Primark (https://www.primark.com/en-gb/a/inspiration/family-time/sensory-friendly-kidswear) and H&M.
The stores below carry adaptive clothing ranges:
- Dunnes Stores: offer popper vests up to age 14 – 16 (depending on the style) and a small clothing range: https://www.dunnesstores.com/kids/additional-needs
- Fledglings: offer popper vests, underwear and pyjamas from small child up to adult sizes. They also sell shoes and weighted vests along with swimwear and incontinence underwear: https://www.fledglings.org.uk/collections/adaptive-clothing
- George (Asda): offer both child and adult adaptive ranges online (which can be delivered to a store for free): https://direct.asda.com/george/clothing/10,default,sc.html?q=adaptive
- Little Green Radicals: organic clothing range with a different patterns. Also do swimwear. Some of their range is also available at John Lewis: https://littlegreenradicals.com/collections/kids-organic-adaptive-clothing
- Marks and Spencer (M&S): offer a range of basics such as t-shirts, plain sweatshirts and joggers from birth and some items going up to age 18. https://www.marksandspencer.com/l/kids/adaptive-clothing?msockid=30e1eec9f9866faa08eef89ff8db6ed8
- SAA clothing: clothing range developed by a dad of two autistic sons. Fabrics are designed to be soft and not irritating and carry neuro-affirming messages: https://www.saaclothing.com/collections/kids
- Special Kids: sell popper vests with short and long sleeves and zip back jumpsuits: https://specialkids.company
- George (Asda): offer plus sizes and longer leg lengths online, plus an easy wear range with easier fastenings and pull on trousers and skirts, and adaptive dresses: https://direct.asda.com/george/collections/easy-on-easy-wear-school/D28M110G1C3,default,sc.html
- Marks and Spencer (M&S): offer pull on skirts and shorts and velcro fastening shirts. Do not offer pull on trousers (i.e. a full elastic waist) after age 6. https://www.marksandspencer.com/l/kids/adaptive-clothing?msockid=30e1eec9f9866faa08eef89ff8db6ed8
- Matalan: have an easy dressing uniform range with velcro fastenings instead of buttons and pull on trousers and skirts: https://www.matalan.co.uk/kids/school-uniform/easy-dressing.list
- School Uniform Shop: no specific adaptive range but they do offer pull on trousers up to age 16: https://www.schooluniformshop.co.uk/product.php/4012/723/zeco-full-elastic-pull-up-eco-trousers-black
- Tu (Sainsburys): have a dress with ease range with velcro fastenings instead of buttons and pull on trousers and skirts: https://tuclothing.sainsburys.co.uk/list/shop-easy-dressing-school-uniform/?clickOrigin=header:click:nav:school-uniform:built-in-benefits:dress-with-ease