Best Adaptive Clothing Brands for Children With Autism

Elemy
Updated: April 14, 2022

Sensitivity issues such as over-responsiveness (hypersensitivity) and under-responsiveness (hyposensitivity) are common in people with autism which can often make clothing uncomfortable. Tags are too itchy or clothes are too restrictive (or not restrictive enough), for example. Adaptive clothing can be more “sensory-friendly” for children with autism as it often will be tagless, seamless, and feature comfortable fits.

Children with autism often also need help to hone fine and gross motor skills, making getting dressed independently even more challenging. Adaptive clothing often has closures and features that can be easier to put on and take off and therefore aid a child with autism to dress themselves more successfully.

There are many adaptive clothing brands on the market designed to enhance confidence, self-reliance, and aid in completing daily life skills such as independent dressing.

What Is Adaptive Clothing?

Adaptive clothing is designed for people who have sensory issues or difficulties dressing independently. This clothing line typically will have features such as magnetic buttons and Velcro closures while still appearing to look like mainstream clothing choices. This can help children to feel more connected to their peers and promote inclusivity.

Adaptive clothing is also often called “sensory-friendly.” For children with autism, features such as no tags, flat seams, and a looser fit can help calm a hyperactive nervous system that is irritated by tags, seams, and tight clothing. Breathable clothing that is soft to the touch, like cotton, can also be ideal for children with autism.

Another aspect of adaptive clothing for autism can include compression clothing. Children with autism can regularly feel overstimulated by the world around them. Compression garments can help to promote calm helping to improve focus and attention, and enhance posture and motor functions.

Benefits of Adaptive Clothing for Children With Autism

Adaptive clothing is often ideal for children with sensory issues as it can be more comfortable and have fewer potential irritants. Seams and tags and scratchy clothing like jeans can overstimulate their system and make it difficult to focus or be comfortable for someone with sensory issues.

Parents have long had to search for specific features in clothes to make children comfortable and find something that they will willingly wear. The adaptive clothing market is on the rise as brands are starting to understand just how many people can benefit from these specialty clothing aspects.

Some of the features of adaptive clothing that can be especially comforting for children with autism include the following:

No tags
Seams are flat and not itchy
Comfortable and soft fabric
Breathable, nonsynthetic materials
Easy to grab zippers or added zipper pulls
Wide-legged pants
No buttons
Elastic waistbands in pants
Faux buttons or magnetic closure buttons
Thumbhole cuffs on jackets to keep sleeves in place
Shoes without tie laces

Adaptive clothing can also encourage independence and help to instill a sense of pride and confidence in children by providing them with an opportunity to be able to dress themselves. The simple closures, elastic waists, and loose-fitting clothing can make adaptive clothing easier to put on than traditional clothing lines. Children with autism often need extra encouragement and help getting dressed. Adaptive clothing can offer a more child-friendly alternative to this important life skill.

Best Adaptive Clothing Brands for Kids

At one point adaptive clothing was often hard to find, and typically only a few options were available and found through online retailers. Today the adaptive clothing line has expanded dramatically with many popular retailers and big-box stores carrying these clothing lines.

Some of the best adaptive clothing brands for kids include:

Target’s Cat and Jack Adaptive Clothing. The popular retailer makes adaptive clothing that is easier to access, functional, and sensory-friendly for babies and kids. This clothing has no tags, side zippers, or snaps on hoodies and pants for easy on and off; elastic waistbands; and flat seams. Items are made of a comfortable cotton blend. Target’s adaptive clothing also comes in fun prints and styles.
Kozie Clothes. This brand makes sensory-friendly clothing and clothing for children with autism. These include weighted compression shirts, pants, and vests that are made of stretchable fabric, allowing free movement. Items come in plain prints that are nonstigmatizing.
Kohl’s Adaptive Clothing Lines. Jumping Beans, SO, Sonoma, and Urban Pipeline are among the brands the big-box retailer has expanded into adaptive clothing lines. These lines include clothing that is easy to put on and take off for independent dressing. Items are designed to be sensory-friendly and comfortable with flat seams, no tags, wider necks and hems, and two-way zipper options. There is even a Disney collaboration, giving children the clothes they want along with what they need.
Smart Knit Kids. Items include socks that have no seams, are form-fitting, soft, and have nonbinding tops. These socks are great for children with autism and sensory issues. This brand also makes seamless underwear for girls and boys and compression undershirts.
Tommy Hilfiger Adaptive Clothing. This specialized line promotes inclusivity and provides both the style of Tommy Hilfiger and the need for easy-on and easy-off clothes and sensory-friendly options. With magnetic buttons, one-handed zippers, and stretchy, sensory-friendly fabrics, there are many options to choose from.
JC Penney Adaptive Clothing line. This popular department store offers a line of adaptive clothing and accessories for children. Items feature clothes with no tags and flat seams that are sensory-friendly and have pull-on loops for easy-on and easy-off dressing. With graphic T-shirts and stylish options, this clothing line is appealing and functional for children with autism.
Calm Wear. This brand makes calming sensory compression clothing for children with autism and sensory-processing disorders. Calm Wear also makes bodysuits that can provide more coverage than typical underwear for children who tend to take off their clothing at inappropriate times.
Independence Day Clothing. This is a specialized line of adaptive clothing designed to help people get dressed on their own with ease. Offering universal-fit socks, flare bottom yoga pants, and T-shirt dresses, there is a wide range of easy-on and easy-off clothing to choose from. There are also no scratchy tags, buttons, or zippers, and the fabric is soft with flat seams. Another unique feature is that all of the clothing is reversible so there is no right or wrong way to put it on and take it off.
Zappos Adaptativ. Zappos has expanded to offer adaptive clothing and footwear options that are made for easy and independent dressing as well as comfort. With reversible, soft, magnetic closures, and buttonless options, there are also a variety of fun prints and styles to choose from.