Written By: Kate Cruess
For wheelchair users, fashion isn’t always one size fits all. This can be primarily significant when trying to find pants that not only fit comfortably but work well while seated and look stylish all at the same time. Traditional clothing typically doesn’t consider how clothing can feel when in a seated position all day.
This is where wheelchair-optimized fashion is important. Adaptive bottoms are made for comfort, mobility and confidence and they don’t always sacrifice style. They take into account specific changes like higher backs, elastic waistbands, comfortable seams and easy closures. This ensures wheelchair users can feel good both physically and emotionally with what they are wearing.
Adaptive fashion represents independence and inclusion, not just comfort. You deserve to feel stylish and confident in what you are wearing, regardless of where you are going. Brands like June Adaptive make this possible through their wheelchair-optimized bottoms. They blend modern fashion with accessible designs. This blog will look at what makes bottoms truly wheelchair-friendly, how stretch vs. traditional fabrics feel while seated, how to measure for a perfect fit, stylish options beyond just “functional” designs and how June Adaptive makes this possible.
What Features Make Pants Wheelchair-Friendly?
When designing and choosing bottoms as a wheelchair user, there are key features that can make a massive difference. These features transform traditional pants into seated-friendly clothing that can be worn all day.
High Back Rise
Many traditional pants can tend to pull forward when seated. With lower back rises, this can be extremely uncomfortable for someone who is in an all day seated position as a wheelchair user. A higher back rise can help prevent gapping and exposure when in this position and increase comfort tremendously.
Flat or Minimal Seams
In areas where the body is in contact with the seat such as behind the knees or under the thighs, seams can be uncomfortable, especially when sitting all day (Sadretdinova et al., 2022). These seams should be minimal, flat or redirected to reduce friction, irritation and pressure points (Sadretdinova et al., 2022). Research on adaptive clothing designing has identified this as a key factor in comfort design (Sadretdinova et al., 2022).
Strategic Stretch and Ease
Pockets, crotch and inseam areas benefit from fabrics with stretch so that moving the legs doesn’t cause the fabric to pull tight (McKinney & Eike, 2023). Adaptive apparel guidelines tend to recommend using stretchable fabrics to facilitate ease of movement and improve comfort (McKinney & Eike, 2023).
Breathable Materials
Seated surfaces concentrate heat and moisture and because of this, adaptive apparel products should use fabric that can react quickly to thermal changes and that ensures airflow is possible (McKinney & Eike, 2023). Adaptive design considers thermal regulation to prevent discomfort throughout long days (McKinney & Eike, 2023).
Elastic or Adjustable Waistbands
Non-adjustable and rigid waistbands tend to dig into skin, especially when sitting for long periods of time. Elastic or adjustable waistbands can reduce pressure and allow flexibility for wheelchair users.
Minimal Bulk and Closures
Avoiding large pockets, or bulky closure methods can reduce pressure when sitting. Wheelchair-optimized pants use hidden or shallow pockets and ensure any hardware is soft and comfortable for the user. This also side closures to increase accessibility and ease of use when dressing.
Wheelchair-optimized clothing ensures comfortability for the user, but still focuses on structure and functionality.
Stretch Vs. Traditional Fabrics For Seated Comfort
A key consideration in adaptive bottoms is whether to go completely with stretch fabrics, or to blend these fabrics with traditional fabric. Each of them has pros and cons.
Stretch Fabrics
Fabrics using elastane, spandex or similar materials let bottoms move with your body. When seated, these fabrics can adapt to changes in your body movement, reduce strain at seams and prevent tightness when shifting muscles. The pros to this fabric are less pulling when seated,better comfort as the pressure is more evenly distributed throughout the bottoms, and better mobility due to the elastic material of it. Now the cons include overuse leading to a loss of shape in the bottom over time and the style aspect. These fabrics may sacrifice some of the style you are wanting, as they make look more “casual”.
Traditional Fabrics
Fabrics such as denim and cotton offer structure, durability and cleaner lines, but in the case of wheelchair users, they tend to need modifications such as inserting stretch or ease cuts (McKinney & Eike, 2023). They tend to need added stretch or elastic in joints, inseam or seat zones, while the legs and thighs can use more structured fabric. Some designs use inserts in specific areas (McKinney & Eike, 2023).
Blending the two fabrics can help with breathability, longevity and wrinkle resistance. For wheelchair users, the best approach is targeted stretch, meaning not all stretch, but a blend of the two to give you structure AND comfort.
How To Measure For The Perfect Adaptive Bottoms Fit
Getting the right measurements is so important to ensure the perfect fit for your adaptive bottoms. For wheelchair users, certain seated position dimensions matter as well. Here is how to measure for a bottom that fits while seated.
1.Measure the depth of the seat by measuring from the back of the seat to the front edge of the chair to get your thigh length in a seated position.
2.To get the back rise measurements, measure from the seat’s lowest point up to where your waistband naturally sits when seated.
3.To get the front rise measurement, measure from the front waistband down to the seat while sitting
4.Measure around the fullest part of your hips to get the hip width
5. To get the inseam, measure from the crotch to the desired hem while considering how the pant will hang when seated
6.Measure around the knees while seated as some pants may pinch there
7. Measure your waist while seated
8.Measure where the widest part of your thigh is to get the thigh circumference
These measurements can be compared to the pants seated fit chart which many adaptive brands will have available. Always allow some ease space in high contact areas, especially if the fabric used has minimal stretch. These measurements help to ensure your bottoms are truly comfortable in the seated position for long periods of time.
Are There Stylish Options Beyond Basic Adaptive Designs?
There are stylish options beyond basic adaptive designs and that is what makes adaptive fashion exciting. You shouldn’t have to settle for bland looks and you don’t!
Modern designs hide adaptive elements such as side zippers. They mimic traditional designs by using similar fabrics and styles but incorporating stretch inserts or hidden openings. Adaptive pants are available in different fabrics and prints to allow you to express your style. There’s options for layered looks with adaptive layering to add style to your outfit. All in all, there are ways to transform basic adaptive designs into stylish options through modifications of these more basic pieces.
An example of a stylish option for wheelchair-optimized bottoms is June Adaptive’s Men’s Side Zip Jeans. These jeans showcase an adaptive design that are intended as stylish staples you can wear confidently. They are made of adaptive denim that not only contains zippered side pockets for access when sitting, pull-up loops and easy closures but also appear more modern and wearable in everyday settings.
Top Brands Reinventing Wheelchair Fashion
June Adaptive
June Adaptive builds clothing that targets style and function. They design wheelchair-optimized bottoms that ensure you are not sacrificing style, comfort or function; you can have them all!
An item from June Adaptive that is great for wheelchair users is the Men’s Pull-On Cargo Pants.They have an elastic waistband and pull-on style which allow the wearer to stay seated while pulling them up. They include pull-up loops for easier handling and an adjustable hem to adjust the length for seated posture. The cargo style with many colors add a popular design to the adaptive pants.
Another piece from June Adaptive is the Women’s Soft Knit Pants with Easy Touch Closures.These pants are made of soft knit fabric which offers stretch and comfort making them ideal for seated positions. The easy touch closures make getting dressed easier especially in a seated position. The fabric and closures look like traditional pants and doesn’t affect the look, making them a genuine everyday choice for wheelchair users!
Final Thoughts
Overall, wheelchair-optimized bottoms are a reminder that clothing should be designed for the way that people live, not how traditional clothing assumes they do. Adaptive clothing is designed for wheelchair users with high backs, stretch zones, side openings and comfortable materials to allow for sitting for long periods of time, and still feeling confident.
Brands like June Adaptive lead the way by creating bottoms that are functional AND stylish for all settings. The more we demand clothes that consider a seated life, the more the industry will respond, just like June Adaptive does. The features, measurements and brand example here can be used as tools to navigate that space. You deserve to have bottoms that meet your needs while making you feel confident.
