It can be hard enough persuading and encouraging brands to create garments that include larger sizes, so finding brands that are catering to disabled people is almost impossible. While there are small businesses such as Mauda creating accessible clothing, the influence of a major brand can not be underestimated. You may not have expected it, but Tommy Hilfiger has become that brand with their ‘Tommy Adaptive’ clothing range.

All items in the Tommy Adaptive collection, which are available in men’s, women’s and kids’ designs and sizes, fit in with the overall Tommy Hilfiger brand ideal. The brand’s classic blend of sporty and preppy style shines through, and all items look like any other in any other Hilfiger line, and yet they cleverly include adaptations with a multitude of people in mind.

“Getting dressed should be a joy - an experience that empowers you to look good and feel good in what you are wearing,” said founder Tommy Hilfiger in a release. “Our adaptive collections have revolutionized everyday dressing for people with disabilities, giving them the independence and confidence to express their individuality through style.”

No two disabled people are the same, and it is vital when we look at accessible clothing that we open our minds to the array of daily challenges one could face when wearing clothes. Part of the collection is designed specifically with wheelchair users in mind. Their jeans designed for seated wear, have a lower front to reduce bunching as well as no back pockets or seams for additional comfort. The tops in the seated wear section have expanded back opens that close with velcro, making dressing with a carer or loved one easier.

As someone with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, I’m particularly interested in the ease of movement sub-section, with all items designed to, you guessed it, help ease movement and dressing. The jeans close with velcro instead of buttons which can be difficult to fasten, and one of the dresses has a belt that you pull tight instead of having to buckle. The hoodies, tops and shirts in this collection have v-necks making it easier to fit the garment over the head with ease.

The collections also cater to those with prosthetics, with wide-leg openings and adjustable features on certain trousers, tracksuits and jeans to accommodate for leg braces, casts and orthotics! Closures are a large focus of the collection, with one-handed zippers on jackets, magnetic buttons on shirts and hook and loop closures on tops, pants and skirts.

Overall, the garments in these collections are highly impressive and worthy of commendation! Perhaps, unsurprisingly, the one let down with the Tommy Adaptive range is the price. At the end of the day, this is still Tommy Hilfiger, a brand with a medium to high price and the adaptive range follows suit. Although, at the time of writing, there is a sale taking place making these products far more affordable.

It is a sad truth that clothing designed specifically for disabled people will, inevitably, be more expensive. There is less of a demand, and not many brands are offering these products. However, now that a major global brand is designing such a necessity, other brands will observe and follow.