Our Adaptive Clothing Guide
Keep scrolling for everything you need to know about the importance of adaptive clothing and our growing adaptive collection.
There is an increasing need for adaptive clothing with 1.8 billion people, or 17% of the population, experiencing some form of disability. (EMPWRMNT) Customers increasingly value brands that show they care about diversity and inclusion (Global Macro Trend, WGSN 2023), but 80% of shoppers can’t name a clothing or footwear brand that shows a commitment to being inclusive. (Kantar 2024)
Current products don’t meet the needs of those with a disability. 67% of physically disabled consumers state that there are no clothes for their body shape while 40% of physically disabled shoppers can’t easily find clothes that fit. (Kantar 2024)
What is adaptive clothing?
Adaptive clothing refers to pieces designed with modifications that make them easier to wear, for people living with health conditions and disabilities. The goal of these modifications is to improve comfort and independence, and make getting dresses easier for people who may have challenges with mobility, dexterity, or sensory sensitivity.
Key features of adaptive clothing
Adaptive clothing can include, but is not limited to, key features such as:
Velcro, magnetic or snap closures: Instead of traditional buttons, zippers, or hooks, adaptive clothing often uses Velcro or magnets for easy closure.
Stretch waistbands and inner pull loops: For people with limited mobility or strength, stretch waistbands and pull loops are easier to manage than buttons or zippers and help with putting on and removing pants and shorts.
Side seam belt attachments: Many adaptive garments, like dresses or shirts, are designed with belts and waist ties attached at the side rather than the back: this minimizes discomfort for people in seated positions, like wheelchair users.
Seamless construction: Clothing made with minimal seams or seams placed in non-irritating locations can help individuals with sensory sensitivities or skin conditions.
Adjustable features: Some adaptive clothing items include adjustable necklines, cuffs, or waists, so the garment can be modified for comfort or size.
Tube access: The addition of holes to pockets and seams helps individuals with the use of any medical devices, while also protecting modesty when tubes are required.
Large pockets: Making sure there's enough room in the garment’s pockets to carry everything from essentials to medical devices.
Easy-wear technologies: Fabrics like modal and those with moisture-wicking properties help keep the wearer comfortable.
On trend: Our adaptive collection includes the same great style, on-trend pieces as our main collections, but has been adapted to suit our customers with diverse needs.
Why is adaptive fashion important?
Adaptive fashion is important for several reasons, all of which contribute to improving the lives of people living with health conditions and disabilities.
It goes beyond just the functional aspects of clothing to also promote dignity, independence, and inclusivity.
What are the benefits of adaptive clothing?
Adaptive clothing provides numerous benefits, including:
Increasing independence: By helping people get dressed with ease, whether independently or with assistance.
Improving comfort: By using soft fabrics and adjustable features.
Promoting dignity and confidence: The designs enable people to wear on trend clothing that helps them express themselves.
Enhancing social inclusion: Adaptive clothing helps break down barriers and challenges stereotypes about disability. By offering pieces with both style and function, the fashion industry is recognizing that disabled people should have the same choice, variety, and opportunities to engage in social activities as everyone else.
Supporting mental health: Struggling to put on clothes, feeling uncomfortable, or not being able to express yourself through personal style can lead to frustration, isolation, and lower self esteem. Adaptive fashion alleviates some of these emotional challenges, providing a sense of empowerment.
Encouraging innovation: The growing demand for adaptive fashion encourages designers and brands to think more creatively about how they design clothing for a wider range of bodies and abilities. It pushes the boundaries of fashion design and drives innovation, resulting in new materials, techniques, and ideas that benefit both the adaptive and general populations.
Saving money, time, effort and energy: By decreasing the need to alter clothes, time wasted figuring out what will work with their bodies, or dealing with a large number of clothing returns.
What does adaptive clothing look like?
At Primark, adaptive clothing is where fashion meets function. We make sure our adaptive collection is on trend, with comfort and innovation our top priority. Subtle design tweaks like snaps instead of buttons, ring pull zippers instead of regular ones and tube access holes discreetly added into pockets are just some of the ways that a basic piece can become more wearable for those with diverse needs.
Adaptive Underwear and Sleepwear
Pajama Sets
Gray ribbed set made from a super soft fabric that feels gentle on the skin.
Green collection made with a minimum of 50% modal — this provides moisture-wicking technology that ensures the wearer is cool and comfortable.
Features
Accessible openings: Snaps on the sleeves and on the pants legs to make getting dressed easier and provide full exposure as needed.
Tube access.
Inner waistband pulls on the pants.
Extra-large pockets on the pants.
Nightgown and Robes
Super soft fabric – feels gentle on the skin.
Belt attached at the side seam - for comfort of the wearer when seated or lying down.
Robe
Belt attached at the side seam – for comfort of the wearer if seated or lying down.
Tube access – discreetly added to the pockets.
Accessible openings – thumb hole on the sleeves and zip opening to provide full exposure as needed.
Extra large pockets.
Bras
Bralette
Stretch band for comfort and support.
Magnetic and fabric hook front closure – to make getting dressed easier for customers with low dexterity.
Delicate lace design – for a sexy, feminine feel.
Adjustable straps – to make sure the fit is correct.
Removable cups – for additional comfort and support.
Seam-Free Bras
Magnetic and fabric hook front closure – to make getting dressed easier for customers with low dexterity.
Adjustable straps – to make sure the fit is correct.
Removable cups – for additional comfort and support
Briefs
Women’s
Seam-Free Briefs
Seam-free construction – feels gentle and comfortable on the skin.
Magnetic and fabric hook closures – positioned either side to make getting dressed easier. The fabric hook also ensures they sit flat and securely against the body.
Period Briefs
- Seam-free construction – feels gentle and comfortable on the skin.
Men’s
Adaptive Briefs
Inner waistband pulls – to make getting dressed easier.
Tube access.
Adaptive Boxer Briefs
Inner waistband pulls – to make getting dressed easier.
Tube access.
Adaptive Clothing TypesÂ
Women’s Adaptive Clothing
Jersey T-Shirts
Accessible openings – snaps from neckline to the sleeve to provide full exposure as needed. Soft tape has also been used here for added comfort.
Tube access.
Cotton Leggings
Tube access.
Inner waistband pulls.
Thoughtful waistband seam placement – to make sure it isn’t pressing on a stoma bag.
Leisurewear Set
Zip Hoodie
Accessible openings – snaps added to the full length of the arm to provide full exposure as needed.
Pockets with tube access.
Larger pockets.
Magnetic zipper – the end of the zipper is magnetic, so both sides can come together themselves to zip it up.
Ring pull on the zipper – ease of use for customers with low dexterity.
Joggers
Accessible openings – snaps added from the knee down to provide full exposure as needed.
Pockets with tube access.
Inner waistband pulls to enable the wearer to pull them on.
Straight leg style – chosen for ease when getting dressed.
Snaps on the pocket openings so that they sit flat.
Wrap Dress
Pockets with tube access.
Designed for someone with a stoma – zippers added at the waist to provide full access to the midsection/stoma.
Accessible openings – zippers added from the shoulder seam down the arm for full exposure as needed.
Belt attached at the side seam – wrap style changed to start from the side seam for comfort.
V-Neck Sweater
Accessible openings – zippers added to the full length of the arm to provide full exposure as needed.
Slits at side seam – for the wearer's comfort.
Straight Leg Jeans
Accessible openings - side splits at the leg opening for access to the bottom half of the leg.
Zip fly changed to snaps – for ease of use for customers with low dexterity.
Pockets with tube access.
Inner waistband pulls.
Stretch waistband at the back for the wearer's comfort.
Trench
Magnetic pocket closures – to make sure they sit flat and keep essentials and devices safe.
Accessible openings – zippers added to the full length of the arm to provide full exposure as needed.
Pocket with tube access.
Inner waistband pulls.
Belt attached at the side seam for the wearer's comfort.
Poplin Shirt
Accessible openings – snaps added to the arm to provide full exposure as needed.
Snaps replace buttons down the front of the shirt – to make getting dressed easier for customers with low dexterity.
Tube access – opening at the side seams for tube access.
Men’s Adaptive Clothing
Leisurewear Set
Zip Hoodie
Accessible openings
Pockets with tube access.
Larger pockets for essentials and devices.
Magnetic zipper with ring pull.
Zippers on sleeves and legs.
Joggers
Accessible openings.
Pockets with tube access.
Inner waistband pulls.
Stretch waistband.
Sports Top
- Accessible openings - snaps from neckline to the sleeve to provide full exposure as needed.
Sports Shorts
Zippers on pockets with ring pull.
Internal waistband pulls.
Extra large pockets.
Tube access.
Stretch waistband.
Jeans
Accessible openings.
Pockets with tube access.
Inner waistband pulls.
Cargo Pants
Accessible openings.
Pockets with tube access.
Inner waistband pulls.
Extra large pockets.Â
Jersey Knit T-Shirt
Accessible openings – snaps from neckline to the sleeve to provide full exposure as needed. Soft tape has also been used here for added comfort.
Tube access
Oxford Shirt
Accessible openings – snaps added to the arm to provide full exposure as needed.
Snaps replace buttons down the front of the shirt – to make getting dressed easier for customers with low dexterity.
Tube access – opening at the side seams for tube access.
Vest
Pockets with tube access.
Larger pockets.
Magnetic zipper – the end of the zipper is magnetic, so both sides can come together themselves to zip it up.
Ring pull on the zipper – ease of use for customers with low dexterity.
Adaptive Clothing: Seated Options
Wrap Dress
Designed for a seated position.
Pockets with tube access.
Designed for people with stomas – zippers added at the waist to provide full access to the midsection/stoma.
Accessible openings – zippers added from the shoulder seam down the arm for full exposure as needed.
Belt attached at the side seam– wrap style amended to start from the side seam for comfort.
Straight Leg Jeans
Designed for a seated position.
Accessible openings - side splits at the leg opening for access to the bottom half of the leg.
Zip fly changed to snaps – for ease of use for customers with low dexterity.
Pockets with tube access.
Inner waistband pulls.
Stretch waistband at the back for the wearer's comfort.
V-Neck Sweater
Designed for a seated position.
Accessible openings – zippers added to the full length of the arm to provide full exposure as needed.
Slits at side seam – for the wearer's comfort.
Jersey Knit T-Shirt
Designed for a seated position.
Accessible openings – snaps from neckline to the sleeve to provide full exposure as needed. Soft tape has also been used here for added comfort.
Tube access.
Trench
Designed for a seated position.
Magnetic pocket closures – to make sure they sit flat and keep essentials and devices safe.
Accessible openings – zippers added to the full length of the arm to provide full exposure as needed.
Pocket with tube access.
Inner waistband pulls.
Belt attached at the side seam for the wearer's comfort.
Zipper on arm changed to a ring pull – to make getting dressed easier for customers with low dexterity.
Button removed on the storm flap at the back – for the wearer's comfort when seated.
Snap added to each side seam – so the fit can be changed as required.
Zip Hoodie
Designed for the seated position.
Accessible openings.
Pockets with tube access.
Larger pockets.
Magnetic zipper.
Joggers
Designed for the seated position.
Accessible openings.
Pockets with tube access.
Inner waistband pulls.
Jeans
Designed for the seated position.
Accessible openings.
Pockets with tube access.
Inner waistband pulls.
Jersey Knit T-Shirt
Designed for a seated position.
Accessible openings – snaps from neckline to the sleeve to provide full exposure as needed. Soft tape has also been used here for added comfort.
Tube access.
Oxford Shirt
Designed for the seated position.
Accessible openings – snaps added to the arm to provide full exposure as needed.
Snaps replace buttons down the front of the shirt – to make getting dressed easier for customers with low dexterity.
Tube access – opening at the side seams for tube access.
Who does adaptive clothing support?
Adaptive clothing is designed for people with health conditions, disabilities, and impairments such as limited mobility, low dexterity, and sensory sensitivities. It can also support those recovering from health treatments, surgery, or temporary health conditions. It makes getting dressed easier, whether independently or with assistance, while still being comfortable and on trend.
How can I tell which products in the store are adaptive?
You can shop the collections in stores and online. Before heading to the store, use our handy stock checker to see estimated product availability.
In the store, you’ll find the adaptive collection on the ground floor, with product merchandised on custom fixtures and near a walkway.
The fixture images and signs will feature a navi-code, that when used with the Navilens app will provide audible directions to guide customers to the product area and type they'd like (like adaptive womenswear, adaptive menswear or adaptive lingerie.) The navi code can be detected from up to about 50 feet away and will auto-translate for the customer, too.
Example navi code below:
*When not on the app, customers will be able to identify adaptive product by the labeling. Our unique font and lilac and gray color palette mark out these pieces from our other store collections. Extensive detail about the product features and benefits, fabrics and care instructions can also be found on these labels.
Example adaptive product label shown below:
You can find our adaptive collection online, by product category below: