MAKING LIFE EASIER
ZAPPOS.COM LAUNCHES ZAPPOS ADAPTIVE
O
READY FOR THE PARTY Children show off fashions from the spring 2017 kids line of
Tommy Hilfiger’s adaptive collection with Runway of Dreams.
clothing. Oliver desperately wanted to
wear jeans, like his friends did, and
Scheier had to figure out how to adapt
these for his leg braces and his difficulty
with buttons.
Up until now, the adaptive clothing
options have been drastically limited
and very specific, geared toward the
elderly or those with seated bodies. In
2013, Scheier, a Livingston mom who
had previously worked at I.N.C. and
Saks Fifth Avenue, founded Runway of
Dreams, a nonprofit that works toward
a future of inclusion, acceptance and
opportunity in the fashion industry for
people with disabilities. Founded on
the basis that clothing is a basic human
need, the Runway of Dreams Founda-
tion develops, delivers and supports
charitable initiatives to broaden the
reach of adaptive clothing and promote
the differently-abled community in the
fashion industry. Through adaptive
clothing donations, employment
opportunity initiatives, adaptive design
workshops, awareness building cam-
paigns and scholarships programs,
the Runway of Dreams Foundation is
empowering people with disabilities
with opportunity, confidence, indepen-
dence and style.
Scheier put together focus groups and
surveys to find commonalities among
different types of disabilities. The goal
was for differently-abled children to be
able to dress themselves if possible and
to do so with much more ease and style.
The research revealed the need for
three changes to mainstream cloth-
ing. Closures had to be changed to use
Velcro and magnets; there needed to be
adjustability for the pant length, sleeves
and waistband; and there had to be
alternate ways to get in and out of the
clothing.
Tommy Hilfiger teamed up with
Runway of Dreams and, in February of
2016, they launched the first season of
adaptive clothing – a 22-piece children’s
line that looks just like the clothing in
the company’s regular spring collection.
It was the first time that on-trend
current fashion was available for
children who are differently-abled.
The modifications are explained
on the Tommy Hilfiger website. For
example, on a button-down shirt, faux
buttons and cuff plackets conceal
nline apparel and footwear
company Zappos.com
recently launched Zappos
Adaptive, a curated collection
of functional and fashionable products
designed to make life easier for those
who have challenges getting dressed.
Zappos Adaptive features new clothing
brands such as 4Ward and Independence
Day Clothing, boasting fashionable items
that are fully reversible, soft to the touch,
tagless and free of buttons and zippers.
Additionally, Zappos Adaptive offers
an extensive line of easy-on shoes
including slip-on, bungee and cord, hook
and loop, diabetic and orthotic friendly
options.
“Zappos Adaptive started with a single
phone call from a customer looking to
exchange a pair of shoes for her grandson
who was unable to tie his own laces,” Saul
Dave, director at Zappos, says. “My disap-
pointment in not being able to replace
the shoes inspired me to start this initia-
tive. Through our research we discovered
that there is a huge underserved commu-
nity needing clothing and footwear that is
both functional and fashionable. We are
so excited about the launch of Zappos
Adaptive. This is just the beginning!”
For more information, visit
zappos.com/adaptive.
a patented MagnaReady magnet
closure for ease of dressing. On pants,
bottoms are drafted with Velcro and
MagnaReady magnet closures on the fly
and pant legs for easy open and close.
A loop-button system provides waist
and length adjustability. Amazingly, the
adaptive styles are offered at the same
price as the rest of the clothes in the
kids’ collection.
“There is a direct correlation with
clothes and a child’s self-esteem and
confidence,” says Scheier.
Now, if differently-abled children
choose to do so, “they can wear what
their peers are wearing,” she adds.
“This can change the stigma for the
differently-abled community.” ●
(201) FAMILY | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2017
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