Adaptive Designs April 2022 - April 2024

The Dinesh Seated Jeans

100% lived experience in action! Carol Taylor designed these jeans for those who wheel through life like her with catheter bags, colostomy bags and the constant worry of injury from life-threatening pressure sores. Her dear friend and constant unwavering supporter, Dr Dinesh Palipana OAM loves them, no wonder she named them after him!

Adaptive Features:

  • Seamless design at the back to prevent pressure sores
  • Lightweight, soft, and wrinkle-free denim
  • Extended leg length tailored for seated fashion
  • High back and low front to maintain dignity and avoid front bunching
  • Contemporary flat front with an elasticised back waist
  • Hidden catheter tube zip access on both sides of the leg
  • Two 20cm side zips and button for easier dressing and front access
  • Discreet thigh space to accommodate a leg bag
  • Functional front chin pockets on each leg
  • ‘Belt loop’ pull tabs to assist with dressing

Image: Dr Dinesh Palipana OAM

Adaptive Puffer Jacket & Vest in a Pillow

  • Made from durable, lightweight, and waterproof quilted puffer fabric that keeps you warm.
  • Designed universally with the seated position in mind, offering comfort and functionality.
  • Features a front that is cropped to prevent bunching, with a longer back to ensure dignity is maintained.
  • This jacket is packable, folding into its own pocket to create a convenient travel pillow or an easy-to-carry item for your wheelchair.
  • Comes with a cozy hood that has adjustable toggles for a perfect fit.
  • Equipped with magnetic zips on the inside of each arm to facilitate assisted dressing.
  • All zippers, including the pouch, have wide pull loops to enhance accessibility and assist those with dexterity challenges.
  • Quality rubber-backed press studs are placed down the front and on the cuffs, allowing for adjustable sizing to accommodate wrist brace or cuff heart monitor.
  • Includes a hanging loop on the back for easy storage.
  • Free from any bothersome internal labels or tags.

More Designs Packed with Adaptive Features in the video below

Universal adaptive design linen shirt - raglan sleeve, unisex, high/low shirt with magnetic buttons for those with dexterity issues.

Spunky adaptive vegan leather pants - easy access for those of us that wheel through life with colostomy or catheter bags and the constant worry of life-threatening pressure sores.

Universal adaptive design camisole - suitable for every body, especially designed to accommodate the “Quad pod” frequently experienced by those of us in the permanently seated position.

Universal adaptive design puffer jacket and vest in a pillow - unisex, high/low design, just perfect for those that can’t temperature regulate, so easy to hang off a wheelchair or use as a travel pillow, kangaroo pouch to keep hands warm, adjustable cuffs to accommodate wrist brace or cuff heart monitor and featuring magnetic side zips that run full length from wrist to hips making dressing a breeze!

The Adaptive Waistcoat

Carol's adaptive waistcoat debuted at the 2019 Mercedes Benz Fashion Festival Brisbane. Originally designed for her friend, Lindsay Nott.

After some further tweaks and upgrades, it evolved into the universal design gender-neutral number, modelled by Kirja Parcell (invisible disability) in the video below!

Carol has developed a waistcoat that can cope with the unexpected changing body shape aka ‘quad pod’ paralysis often brings. Trying to wrangle paralysed elbows, arms and shoulders through a sleeve means that people with disability are often left with no choice but to Upsize to make dressing easier - the result, definitely not a good look! So Carol designed this waistcoat with an ‘A’ frame shape, (Quad Pod be Gone!) x 2 invisible zips on either side and magnetic buttons down the front!

It opens up on three fronts and simply slips over the head! How easy is that!

Image: Lindsay Nott

Pleather Seated Pants

Spunky adaptive vegan leather pants with easy access for those of us that wheel through life with colostomy or catheter bags and the constant worry of life-threatening pressure sores.

Packed with Adaptive Features:

  • Designed to accommodate a colostomy bag, leg bag, and/or quadpod.
  • Seamless bamboo back design to help prevent pressure sores and aid in sliding (board) transitions.
  • Vegan leather front paired with a bamboo back to minimise pressure sores.
  • Reinforced hoisting panel for ease of repositioning in the wheelchair.
  • Full-length gold zippers on both sides of the leg with 2-way pull rings for easy access to the tummy, upper, and lower leg.
  • Faux pockets for a sleek look.

Image: Suzanne Berry

The Oceania Kaftan

This Oceania Kaftan features Carol's original artwork printed on 100% pure silk and can be worn multiple ways.

Carol loves the freedom of a Kaftan, personally she loves how it can help conceal her quad pod acquired over two decades of being permanently seated, not to mention having a baby!

Is it a wrap, is it a scarf, or a belt? Carol had so much fun designing this piece. Versatile and elegant, the kaftan can be styled multiple ways, making it perfect for any occasion and it looks great on any size.

Scroll down to see how the beautiful Emily Jade O’Keeffe styles her Oceania Kaftan.

Image: Kirja Parcell (invisible disability)