New adaptive apparel now available at Kohl’s

For Jai Srinivasan, fitting in is about not standing out.

The 8-year-old model from Ashburn, Virginia, says he likes wearing “cool” adaptive clothing because they make him feel confident.

Jai, who has cerebral palsy and wears a brace on his left arm, now has more options.

Kohl’s announced Wednesday that it has added clothing designed for people with disabilities into its three largest kids’ brands – Jumping Beans, SO and Urban Pipeline – that look just like clothing worn by their peers but are easier to wear.

The Menomonee Falls, Wisconsinbased retailer is one of the largest to join the growing adaptive clothing market,

which Coresight Research estimates will reach nearly $289 billion globally and $47.3 billion in the U.S. this year.

“They’re easier to get on because the buttons are magnets or Velcro,” Jai told USA TODAY. “I want to be like everybody else.”

According to a 2017 U.S. Census Bureau report, more than 40 million adults in the U.S. have a disability. More than 14 million of them have difficulties with daily living activities such as dressing, while nearly 8 million adults report difficulty with self care.

The dozens of items in Kohl’s lines are designed for babies through young adults. Aside from the Velcro or magnetic closures, some adaptive items are tagless, don’t have seams, and materials may be softer for children with sensory sensitivity.

“Just because we are creating clothing for unique needs doesn’t mean that it needs to be basic,” said Kara Smoltich, associate product manager for Jumping Beans, in a statement. “We have made every effort to ensure that the product looks as close to our core line as possible.”

Other major retailers and brands with adaptive clothing include Tommy Hilfiger, Target, Nike, Zappos and Lands’ End.

Runway of Dreams Foundation helped make it happen

Most mainstream adaptive clothing lines exist today because of the non-profit Runway of Dreams Foundation.

Fashion designer Mindy Scheier started the foundation in 2014, after her son

Oliver, then 8, who has a rare form of muscular dystrophy, asked why he couldn’t wear jeans to school. Back then, sweatpants were his only option and what fit over his leg braces.

In 2016, the foundation partnered with Tommy Hilfiger, which launched the first mainstream adaptive clothing line, Tommy Adaptive.

In 2018, during New York Fashion Week, Runway of Dreams and an adaptive clothing show kicked off the event with Tommy Hilfiger, Nike and Target lines.

“In a very short amount of time, the industry is listening,” said Scheier, of Livingston,

New Jersey. “They are understanding that people with disabilities represent the largest minority we have on our planet. So not including them in the fashion conversation is not only not the right thing but it’s not good business.”

There’s a personal connection with Kohl’s launch, too.

Judy Koepsel, a technical design manager for kids at Kohl’s who has a 3-yearold daughter with developmental and sensory needs, helped form a group of Kohl’s employees who know someone with a disability or complex medical needs.

“We aligned on what needed to be considered when fitting, such as how a pant fits when sitting down, could the pockets still be used, is the shirt long enough to cover in the back, and so forth,” Koepsel said in a statement.

Like it has for Jai, Kohl’s said in the statement that the company hopes the new clothes will inspire confidence in children who wear it.

Before Jai had adaptive clothing, he needed assistance going to the bathroom and getting dressed, his mom Kate Sowerwine said.

“The fact that he could open and close it by himself and the smile on his face,” she said. “It gave him independence.”

Jai started modeling and working with Runaway of Dreams soon after trying the Tommy Hilfiger line. Jai’s service dog, Banks, a golden lab, also was featured in the Kohl’s photo shoot.

“The confidence that Jai gets from modeling clothing and wearing clothes that are specially adapted for him, it’s like sports for other kids,” Sowerwine said.

What’s next?

Like the other brands, the Kohl’s products are available only online, which is something Sowerwine and Scheier hope will one day change.

“There are a lot of kids and adults with disabilities and they also want some choice in their fashion,” Sowerwine said. “I would love to walk into the store and see adaptive clothing right next to the regular.”

Scheier hopes Kohl’s announcement will encourage more brands to come on board and for adaptive to become the next division within the fashion industry.

“The reality is it’s easier to find clothes for dogs than it is for people with disabilities,” she said.

KOHL'S Adaptive clothing has helped 8-year-old Jai Srinivasan – with his dog, Banks – become more independent, says his mom, Kate Sowerwine. “The fact that he could open and close it by himself and the smile on his face,” she said.

KOHL'S Kohl's is introducing adaptive apparel to its three largest kids' brands.