Fashion for wheelchair users is now a reality, thanks to new Gloucestershire brand
A Tewkesbury-based business has launched a new brand designed specifically for wheelchair users.
Hewinson specialises in designing and making denim jeans designed specifically to cater for the needs of wheelchair users.
Hewinson jeans have been uniquely designed to appear as a regular pair of jeans, with a host of clever ‘hidden’ functions to make them as comfortable as possible for wheelchair users.
Launched by the team behind a leading adaptive fashion brand, founder Paul Haidon explained the thinking behind the new denim offering:
Paul said: “In our 25 years of experience in adaptive fashion, what we’ve heard time and time again from wheelchair users is the fact that they seem to be able to find functional or stylish jeans; never the two together. We desperately wanted to solve that problem by designing a pair of jeans that not only looked great, but offered comfort by taking into account the specific needs of wheelchair users who remain in seated positions for long periods of time. We pored over the prototypes for a very long time to ensure we had every element of the design just right, and we’re pleased to say that that’s exactly what we’ve achieved; a stylish, comfortable pair of jeans, that just so happen to be specifically tailored for wheelchair users. We believe firmly that ‘adapted’ needn’t sacrifice style and style needn’t sacrifice comfort. We’ve married the two.”
Manufactured in the UK, Hewinson jeans are made from soft-stretch cotton denim and boast a raft of clever design features to ensure maximum comfort for the wearer. These include a high-rise back, tailored for a seated position, extra-long zip and no rear pockets; mitigating the risk of any pressure-related sores, which pockets can often cause. The jeans have also been created with unique flat seams, again to reduce the chance of sores, reinforced belt loops to allow for easy pull-on and an elasticated waist for extra comfort when seated.
With men’s and women’s versions available, Hewinson jeans are currently available in a regular, straight-cut fit in classic stonewash denim, with additional colours planned for launch later this year. The company has also launched a range of comfortable trackies, and has exciting plans to extend its clothing line in the near future, with a range of leisurewear including wheelchair user-specific hoodies and jackets planned for early 2023.
George Dowell, wheelchair user and C5/C6 Tetraplegic, is founder of The Wheel Life; an Instagram account and YouTube channel documenting his life with girlfriend Jessikah as an inter-abled couple.
He said: “As a wheelchair user, I know first-hand how difficult it is to find comfortable, style-conscious clothes that take the unique needs of someone in a seated position into account; something I don’t think the wider fashion industry has really managed to grasp as yet. It’s really refreshing to see a brand like Hewinson not only thrust this issue into the spotlight, but offer a fashion-conscious solution to what is a real need for more adaptive designs on the market.”
