Runway of Dreams highlights 15 lovely adaptive clothing trends
Clothing that looks great and makes life easier
Credit:
Runway of Dreams
Products are chosen independently by our editors. Purchases made through our links may earn us a commission.
Adaptive fashion has come a long way in recent years, and 2024 has already proven this emerging style sector is just getting started. The Runway of Dreams Foundation, a non-profit that highlights the need for adaptive clothing and shoes for people with disabilities, held its latest fashion show in mid-February. This time, the organization partnered with Dateability, a dating app designed for disabled and chronically ill individuals.
The goal of Dateability is to create a safe space for people with physical, intellectual, and psychiatric disabilities to meet and connect. “We wanted to change the game for disabled people,” says company Co-founder and CEO Jacqueline Child, who is also disabled and grew frustrated with her experience on other dating apps. She adds, “We all want love, and we all love fashion.”
“Clothing is important to so many milestones in our lives,” says Mindy Scheier, founder of Runway of Dreams. “And dating is no different. We all want to fall in love and feel good.”
At the show, disabled individuals dressed in 2024’s hottest adaptive fashion trends to meet their blind date on the runway before posing for the camera. As the models strutted their stuff, we were inspired by the sights, which featured many new adaptive clothing items and shoes.
Here are a few trends we noticed in the world of adaptive clothing for women and men.
Adaptive button downs and jackets
Many adaptive clothing items replace buttons with easy loops and fasteners for added convenience.
This long sleeve adaptive button-down shirt for men is simple for anyone to get on in a flash. Two snaps at the top give it a stylish flair, but the hook and loop fasteners down the front remove the need for buttons. The sleeves also have hook and loop fasteners.
This plaid button-down shirt has stretchy fabric and is easy to wear.
JCPenney also showcased its adaptive line, which includes this collared plaid shirt with hook and loop tape closures instead of buttons.
Adaptive plaid is all the rage at JCPenney, too.
Women’s coats and jackets were also popular at the show, including this adaptive black jacket that stops at the waist for easier use with a wheelchair. The front zipper and back hook and loop closure make dressing and undressing easier for someone with hand dexterity challenges.
For ladies, this polyester jacket offers easy hook and loop options.
Or if denim is more your style, maybe this slim-fit number from Tommy Adaptive is ideal. It has magnet closures for maximum simplicity.
This slim-fit jacket features magnets as its hallmark adaptive feature.
Dresses for every occasion
These adaptive dresses have magnets and zippers in all the right places.
While dresses are an oft-overlooked area in adaptive clothing, Tommy Adaptive highlighted two styles to suit different needs. This Port Access Zip Dress has zipper openings for IVs, while this Belted Denim Dress revels in the unrivaled simplicity of magnets.
If you have an IV, this dress has discreet openings around its arms for easy access.
Magnets make this denim dress stylish and easy to wear.
Adaptive jeans and cargo pants
These adaptive jeans have side zippers and wheelchair-friendly features.
These boys adaptive jeans with a side zipper at the waist allow them to be more easily pulled on and off. Snaps at the ankle allow for easy access to orthotics, and the absence of a back pocket makes them wheelchair friendly.
Side zippers make pulling on these jeans easier than ever.
Jeans like these from No Limbits have a long zipper on either side of each pant leg and a reinforced knee for people with a lower limb difference. The retailer also sells jeans for wheelchair users with zippers on each side from the waist to hip, front pockets instead of back pockets, and a catheter leg loop.
Side zippers make pulling on these jeans easier than ever.
If you spend lots of time seated, these jeans have many modifications to suit your lifestyle.
For its part, JCPenney showcased cargo pants in a variety of colors with a hook and loop closure in place of a button and zipper. Models also showcased this polo shirt with an easy shoulder opening and similar hook and loop design.
These cargo pants ditch pesky buttons for improved ease of dress.
This shirt proves polos don’t need buttons either.
Sensory-friendly chic
Tagless and seamless clothing that accommodates sensory needs can look stylish too.
No Limbits also stocks sensory friendly tops with no seams, soft fabric, and tagless labels. But of course, they weren’t the only brand to get in on the action.
Say goodbye to seams and tags with this special clothing collection.
Tommy Hilfiger featured these flat-label and seam-free t-shirts, too.
Tommy has its sights set on sensory, too.
Adaptive shoes with zippers
The practical zipper that stretches along these Billy Footwear shoes is a time saver and major dexterity aid.
Billy’s shoes are a favorite for many people with disabilities because they are easy to get on and off with a zip-up side closure. There are a variety of stylish options available, in the form of boots or classic high top sneakers.
These boots have zippers that make it easy to step right in.
If you want some classic high tops, Billy Footwear offers those with zippers as well.
Regardless of one’s needs, having a multitude of comfortable clothing options makes it easy for many folks with disabilities to feel good and continue to look good. “You need to put yourself out there because people tend to look past you [when you have a disability],” says one of the event’s models.
The evening concluded with words from actor and comedian Steve Way, who has muscular dystrophy, who addressed attendees as a surprise guest speaker. He expressed pride toward his audience, largely comprised of members of the disability community. “What I love about Runway of Dreams is that it’s something we can say is ours,” he affirms.
Considering the variety of unique looks on display across this event, there’s little doubt one of the world’s most ignored populations has found its place in fashion.
feature
