Your Holiday Shopping Can Help Support Adaptive Businesses

It's that time of year again — the time of giving, comfort food, and the dreaded holiday shopping list. But what if your holiday shopping could do more than just cause you headaches and added stress? This winter season, you can choose to both shop small AND help support increased accessibility in fashion through your holiday purchases. 

As a small business ourselves, we've seen first-hand the importance our community holds for us — they are the sole reason we've been able to get our brand out there in ways we never could have imagined. By supporting a small adaptive business, you're doing so much more than purchasing a product, you're supporting the powerful mission behind it. 

Below you'll find a list of adaptive small businesses (hand-picked by yours truly) that are breaking through barriers in the fashion and tech industries. Happy shopping!

Unhidden 

Founded by garment technologist Victoria Jenkins, Unhidden specializes in apparel for people with both visible and non-visible disabilities. Their collection features womenswear, menswear, and unisex clothing designed specifically for seated dressing. Along with being functional for those with disabilities, Unhidden also uses eco-friendly materials in their designs to ensure they are as sustainably-focused as they are accessibility-focused. 

Kizik 

Kizik was founded on the promise to make everyday living easier for their customers. Each of their shoes are made of high-grade, durable materials and put through rigorous testing in order to deliver the best possible hands-free product to their users. Kizik's collection features women's, men's, and kid's slip-on footwear in a variety of practical or bright (fun!) colors and patterns. 

CyR.U.S Tags

After learning her youngest child was born with a rare hereditary disorder that affects the retinas, Victoria Watts set out to create the CyR.U.S system. CyR.U.S's mission is strong — to empower those who are blind or visually impaired with the ability to experience products independently and safely. The CyR.U.S Touch Tags feature raised universal symbols to allow those who are blind or visually impaired to safely use their skincare, self-care, and home products. 

June Adaptive

June Adaptive believes no one should have to sacrifice style for accessibility — and their expansive clothing range abides by that. June Adaptive offers womenswear and menswear from adaptive dresses and jackets all the way down to footwear and socks. Their website also features a section for customers to shop by specific needs — including clothing for those with arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson's disease.