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For people with dexterity or mobility limitations, getting dressed can be a challenge. Enter adaptive underwear.
Adaptive underwear provides ease and independence for people who find traditional underwear difficult to use. These designs commonly feature fastenings such as velcro, zippers or magnetic clasps at the front or side, so that the bra or brief can be put on or taken off without significant movement, bending, or standing.
Adaptive lingerie is intended for people who have a disability or injury, use a wheelchair, suffer from chronic illness or pain, or are recovering from a surgical procedure such as a C-section. However, adaptive briefs in particular can also be useful for anyone who needs to change discreetly in a location where it’s difficult to get fully undressed, such as in an aeroplane bathroom or while camping.
Here are 13 adaptive underwear brands which are paving the way toward more accessible underwear for everyone:
Liberare
- Size Range: XXS – XXXL
- Price: $25 – $60
- Closure Styles: Magnetic, velcro, extra-adjustable straps
- Adaptive Lingerie Styles: Wirefree bras, cami and shorts sleep sets
- Current Colourways: Black, pink
- Other Product Notes: When designing Liberare’s collection, it was important to founder Emma Butler that the styles didn’t look medical. Liberare stands out from some of the more basic designs on this list with satin and lace lingerie including the Slumber PJ Tank.
Liberare (previously Intimately) started off as a KickStarter campaign by a student whose mother suffered from a chronic illness that made getting dressed difficult. You might have seen them in the news recently, as they’ve just launched a partnership with the popular American brand Aerie. They sell their own product designs plus curate adaptive underwear from other brands in their online store.
Elba
- Size Range: S – XL, featuring M+, L+ and XL+ for larger busts
- Price: £12 – £60
- Closure Styles: Magnetic front closure
- Adaptive Lingerie Styles: Wirefree bras
- Current Colourways: Black, grey, pink, and floral patterned
- Other Product Notes: Elba offers a sizing calculator to help you find the right size bra in their store.
Elba is the word “able” backwards. This London-based company’s mission is to create adaptive underwear that is both stylish and functional, and they have some fun styles such as the Elba Essential Bra in Fleur.
Slick Chicks
- Size Range: XS – XXL
- Price: $22 – $74.99
- Closure Styles: Velcro, hook-and-eye, magnetic, zippers, front-adjustable straps
- Adaptive Lingerie Styles: Hipster, tanga and high-waisted bottoms, wirefree bras
- Current Colourways: Black, white, beige, purple
- Other Product Notes: Slick Chicks offers leakproof underwear with light to medium absorption. They also have a selection of accessible loungewear. Styles such as the Adaptive Loungewear Short come on and off with side velcro, while the Front Zip Camisole includes an accessible zipper and magnetic straps.
Slick Chicks is one of the biggest names in the adaptive underwear market. In keeping with their commitment to empowerment and inclusivity, they outsource the sewing of their products to MAS Holdings, a company in Sri Lanka that employs over 380 people with disabilities. As the brand says: “We had a chance to create a product for persons with disabilities, by persons with disabilities”.
Clip-Knix
- Size Range: UK 8 – 26
- Price: All styles £15
- Closure Styles: Buttons, hook-and-eye
- Adaptive Lingerie Styles: Bikini, hipster, and French-style briefs
- Current Colourways: Black, white, and cream
- Other Product Notes: Each product is designed to be both practical and fashionable, featuring beautiful lace on the Traditional and Classic styles.
UK-based brand Clip-Knix designs underwear that is comfortable to wear throughout the day, even for people with chronic pain. It can be changed while sitting or laying down, without the need to bend or stretch.
SKIMS
- Size Range: XXS – 4XL
- Price: $18 – $32
- Closure Styles: Hook-and-eye
- Adaptive Lingerie Styles: Bralette, brief, thong, and boyshort
- Current Colourways: Black plus three shades of nude
- Other Product Notes: SKIMS is currently running a special on their Fits Everybody underwear selection, which includes their adaptive styles, where you can get any 3 bottoms for $36.
Kim Kardashian’s famous brand SKIMS debuted a small selection of adaptive underwear* earlier this year. Their hook-and-eye closures reduce the possibility of catching on other clothes, something that’s sometimes a concern with velcro and zipper closures.
Fresh Comfort
- Size Range: S – XXL
- Price: $22 – $70
- Closure Styles: Velcro, zippers
- Adaptive Lingerie Styles: Wirefree bras
- Current Colourways: White, cream, and blue
- Other Product Notes: Fresh Comfort’s adaptive bras feature wide straps and removable cup pads for additional comfort and support. Their products are designed without tags to reduce irritation against the skin.
Fresh Comfort’s mission is to create comfortable underwear for people with limited mobility. Their products are machine washable and easy to care for, as well as easy to use. Use their size calculator to find the best fit.
Undercare
- Size Range: S – 4X
- Price: $28 – $34
- Closure Styles: Velcro, snaps, front clasp
- Adaptive Lingerie Styles: Bikini briefs, mid-rise briefs and boxers
- Current Colourways: Black, white, gray, polka-dot print
- Other Product Notes: Undercare will soon have an apative swimwear option, with a one-piece that features a front zipper and velcro. They also sell men’s underwear.
Undercare uses high-quality velcro to fasten garments without irritating sensitive skin. All products are durable and pre-shrunk so you can easily clean them without worrying about shrinkage.
Silverts
- Size Range: S – 3XL; Bras fit A-D cup with additional styles for D-DD cup and US DDD-HH cup
- Price: $18.58 – $34.98 (many items currently on clearance at lower prices)
- Closure Styles: Velcro, snaps, hook-and-eye
- Adaptive Lingerie Styles: Wirefree bras and a bodysuit
- Current Colourways: Black, white, cream
- Other Product Notes: They also offer a bodysuit with shoulder straps that adjust in the front and a snap closure gusset.
Silverts is a United States-based company that specialises in easy-to-wear fashion. It’s primarily targeted at the elderly which reflects in the styles available – they skew functional rather than fashionable. However, it gets plus points for affordability. They offer a range of outerwear as well as intimates, and they helpfully note whether each article of clothing is best suited to self-dressing or assisted dressing.
Hanna Broer
- Size Range: XS – 2XL, custom sizing available
- Price: $30 – $82
- Closure Styles: Snaps, magnetic clips
- Adaptive Lingerie Styles: Wireless bra, high-waisted briefs and a thong
- Current Colourways: Light blue, red, brown, ivory
- Other Product Notes: Each item is sustainably crafted from organic natural fibers and handmade by Hanna Broer in Vermont, USA.
Every product by Hanna Broer is designed with comfort in mind, and custom sizing makes this brand very accessible. Although these adapative styles and the option of custom sizing are currently unavailable while the designer is on maternity leave, this is a brand to watch.
ModiBodi
- Size Range: 2XS – 3XL
- Price: $24.50 – $28.50
- Closure Styles: Velcro, metal clasps
- Adaptive Lingerie Styles: Boyleg and bikini briefs
- Current Colourways: Black
- Other Product Notes: You may know ModiBodi from my previous article on the 10 Best Period Underwear Brands to Try.
ModiBodi* is primarily known for its leak-proof underwear. They currently offer two styles of adaptive period underwear: the Luxe Clasp Bikini* for moderate-heavy absorbency (15ml of liquid or 2-3 tampons or 3 teaspoons) and the Adaptive Boyleg* for heavy-overnight absorbency (20ml of liquid or 3-4 tampons or 4 teaspoons).
Swtch
- Size Range: 1 – 8 (similar to XS-4XL)
- Price: $32, or buy The Swtch Kit to receive two for $58 (currently on pre-order)
- Closure Styles: Velcro-like fastening
- Adaptive Lingerie Styles: Bikini and thong
- Current Colourways: Black
- Other Product Notes: Swtch has noted that they intend to introduce more colours and styles down the line.
Swtch offers moisture-wicking underwear that comes in a washable go-bag, so you can get changed quickly wherever the day takes you, and store them in your bag without drama. The idea came to founder Isabel Muller during a camping trip where she needed to change her underwear but didn’t want to take her many layers of clothing off first. Swtch’s designs are active as well as adaptive, so you can wear them during exercise. They’re made in small batches with fabric from recycled and sustainably-sourced fibres.
Wings Intimates
- Size Range: S – L
- Price: $26 – $38
- Closure Styles: Metal slide opening
- Adaptive Lingerie Styles: Bikini, Brazilian brief, and thong
- Current Colourways: Black, white, pink, and red
- Other Product Notes: Wings Intimates’ designs are made to be feminine and sensual, with lace and mesh details.
Like Swtch, Wings Intimates isn’t specifically targeted toward people with disabilities. However, founder Azita Yaghoobian had the idea to start the brand after she had a C-section and faced limited mobility. The signature W side-opening design may be challenging to use for some people with dexterity limitations, but this is a brand to watch as Wings’ sexy designs are a breath of fresh air compared to the more functional styles common in the adaptive underwear space.
Editor’s note [17/03/24]: This article by Eliza was originally published in 2022 with 12 brands; I have since come across a 13th brand which I’ve written about myself below.
Springrose
- Size Range: 32B – 46F
- Price: $73.99
- Closure Styles: Velcro, front-adjustable straps
- Adaptive Lingerie Styles: Wirefree bra
- Current Colourways: Black, terracotta
- Other Product Notes: This brand manufactures ethically in Colombia, via a manufacturer that pays a living wage and primarily employs single mothers.
Springrose* founder Nicole Cuervo came up with the idea for the brand after being unable to find stylish adaptive bras for her grandmother, Rose. The Springrose bra (at the time of writing, the only product the brand offers) is therefore made to be chic as well as functional, with satin straps and a plunge bralette silhouette. It has been designed to be easy to get on and off even if you can’t lift your arms or only have the use of one hand, and has optional (removable) O rings for those with low dexterity.
Have you used adaptive lingerie before? What are your thoughts on the brands on this list?
1 comment
Wow. So revolutionary- 12 brands making (based on the size charts of each brand) THE SAME SIZE RANGE. Not a single brand making above a 60” hip. Disabled bodies come in all shapes and sizes. The misuse of the concept of “inclusion” is grating. As a plus sized disabled woman, I would challenge any adaptive brand to be actually inclusive and start making plus sizes.