6 Adaptive Brands for Back to School Shopping

ProductsAdaptive ClothingAdaptive Footwear
Written By Rachel Portell

Back to school shopping is in full swing, so we’ve rounded up six brands with stylish adaptive clothing, shoes and backpacks to make your life easier.

1. No Limbits

No Limbits founder Erica Cole lost her leg in a car crash in 2018. After experiencing the need to sacrifice style for practicality, she decided to create something that would ‘make life simpler, more enjoyable, and fashionable’. She leaned into her theatrical costume design background to design the perfect pair of jeans. Now No Limbits sells:

  • Wheelchair pants

  • Sensory friendly clothing

  • Limited dexterity apparel

three images in line, from L to R: a man in a bedroom with orange carpet and a striped duvet zipping jeans down over his prosthetic leg, a man in a wheelchair wearing a white long sleeve shirt and No Limbits jeans, the founder of No Limbits sitting

Photos via @no.limbits

2. BILLY Footwear

Billy footwear focuses on shoes that embody universal design, meaning they are both stylish and functional for everyone. Each shoe has a zipper that goes around the toe, allowing the wearer to place their foot into the shoe unobstructed. The shoe then zips closed. These were my absolute favorite find when my son wore SMO orthotics, and I cannot tell you the number of compliments we receive when my son wears these shoes!

Three images of BILLY Shoes, from L to R: a pair of high tops that are white with colorful stars, the person is zipping the shoes up. Next is a pair of blue BILLY high tops on a blanket. Last AFO orthotics in black BILLYs being zipped

Photos via @billyfootwear

3. Seven7 Able

Seven7 has been around for decades and is widely known for their premium denim. Seven7 Able is their line of adaptive and casual wear aimed at making ‘dressing easier and faster, so you can be you’. Most of their denim falls in the $69 - $79 price range and includes velcro or magnetic fastening and elastic waistbands.

From L to R: a man in a wheelchair and a white shirt wearing Seven7 adaptive jeans, a pair of Seven7 adaptive jeans showing the magnetic zip and fly, a woman wearing a red tank in a wheelchair wearing Seven7 Adaptive Jeans, a pair of black ponte pant

Photos via seven7jeans.com/adaptive

4. Friendly Shoes

Friendly was started by an occupational therapist who wanted to provide fashionable, comfortable shoes that are a breeze to put on. They make shoes for women, men, and kids and claim to ‘solve more types of footwear challenges than any other shoe technology’. They offer a wide variety of colors and styles with prices starting at $79.95 for adults and $39.95 for kids.

From L to R: a child's legs dangling off a bench in Friendly sneakers that are navy with red, white, and light blue designs. The feet and lower leg of someone in a wheelchair wearing blue friendly sneakers with white soles and coral lining. A woman b

photos via @friendlyshoesus

5. Pottery Barn Kids & Pottery Barn Teen

Pottery Barn Kids and Pottery Barn Teen recently released a brand-new accessible collection that includes adaptive backpacks, lunch bags, food storage and more. The company worked with kids, parents, teachers, and industry experts to increase product accessibility for those with disabilities. The Mackenzie Adaptive Backpack and Lunchbox Collection (PB Kids) and the Gear-Up Adaptive Backpack and Lunchbox Collection (PB Teen) offer mobility device compatibility and easier access to contents.

Three photos, from L to R: a person snapping the Pottery Barn adaptive backpack to the back of a wheelchair, a young boy with green glasses using a mobility aid with his backpack attached, a closeup of an adaptive feature of the backpack.

Images via potterybarnkids.com

6. Slick Chicks

Slick Chicks was founded in 2012 by a loving sister looking for an undergarment solution for people with physical constraints. Now, their mission is to ‘empower people to tackle any of life’s daily challenges because we all deserve a sense of self, dignity and independence’. They now sell adaptive bras, panties and loungewear and their accessible hoodie, joggers and crewnecks are all great options to start the new school year.

From L to R: A woman smiling and wearing a bright pink slick chicks hoodie that has a black zipper down the left front, a close up of a women un zipping a black long-sleeve shirt, a woman wearing bright pink joggers and a bright pink crop top

photos via slickchicksonline.com

Did we miss your favorite brands? Let us know in the comments below!

Rachel Portell
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