“Adaptive Fashion is Inclusive and Cool”
Hi friends, welcome back to the blog. All of us here at Patti + Ricky want to recognize and thank all of our First Responders and Health Care Workers who have been working so very hard to keep everyone safe and healthy amid this time of the worldwide pandemic. To all those affected in some way by the COVID-19 virus, our hearts and healing thoughts are with you. To all of our readers of the blog we ask that you keep this simple thought in mind as we all continue to navigate these trying days, This is bigger than us. It's about taking care of each other. It's about reaching out and staying connected and be grateful, If we can't express gratitude and just take a moment out of our day to say thank you, then what do we have after all?
We are so happy you all enjoyed the first one all the feedback has been awesome and we just know you’re going to love this one as well. Today we are so excited to introduce to you another one of the incredible Adaptive Fashion designers we here at Patti + Ricky have the pleasure of working with, Karen Bowersox is the Founder and CEO of NBZ® Apparel International. For just about ten years now Karen has worked diligently to do her part to change the face of Adaptive Fashion. This month Karen is our spotlight designer and we couldn’t be more excited to tell you all about her and her one of a kind company NBZ® Apparel International.
These days, children, teenagers, and young adults with Down syndrome or any other type of disability have more options when it comes to fashionable clothing. However, individuals with Down syndrome face several problems when it comes to buying clothes. People with this specific disAbility don't have the same body shapes as those without Down syndrome.
Those individuals with Down syndrome typically have rounder bodies, shorter limbs, and sensitivities to tags and some fabric textures. Zippers, buttons, and snaps, and other things of that sort can be difficult for those with Down syndrome to maneuver. This makes it frustrating to find clothing that looks fashionable and for people with Down syndrome to dress independently. Karen Bowersox knows these facts all too well.
Karen entered the Adaptive Fashion industry after being inspired by her granddaughter Maggie who was born with Down syndrome herself. After searching Karen soon came to realize that clothing for people with disabilities left a lot to be desired.
That was a little over a decade ago when Adaptive Fashion was pretty much non-existent (unless you want to count a cape type garment for wheelchair users fashion) Karen knew it had to change, and not only did she single-handedly change it she turned it on its head and became one of the first and only designers to design jeans specifically for individuals with Down Syndrome. This flagship company became known as Downs Designs Inc.
The company was thriving and successful. However, She didn’t stop there, Karen knew there was more to be done. She was determined to make what is known as a fashion staple in most people’s closets available to people with various disabilities. It was then and only then she decided to start from scratch essentially and NBZ® Apparel International was born. NBZ® (No Buttons Zipperless) pants have been featured at the White House and have received high praise from many other news and media outlets. Patti + Ricky feels honored to carry NBZ Apparel International uniquely designed jeans on our Adaptive Fashion Marketplace PattiandRicky.com.
Karen describes the clothing of NBZ ®Apparel International as stylish and comfortable and easy to pull on and take off, making independent dressing easy. We at Patti + Ricky couldn't agree more. Here is what PattiandRicky.com Founder and CEO Alexandra has to say about Karen Bowersox and her innovate one of a kid brand NBZ® Apparel International.
"When we first found NBZ® Apparel's easy to pull on jeans for men with disAbilities, I knew we had to carry them at Patti + Ricky. I had never seen such good looking denim for men with elastic waistbands. When you see them, especially in person, you would never know they had an elastic waistband. They can easily be dressed up or down. Our customers absolutely love them, their quality is perfect and they last forever. Customers do come back to purchase different denim washes that we offer.
I love Karen Bowersox and I feel so lucky to be working with her and offering her stylish and empowering products to our Patti + Ricky customers. I look up to Karen as a mentor and I love and appreciate all she has done for individuals with disAbilities and the Adaptive Fashion Movement. Thank you, Karen, for all you have done and continue to do each day for people with disAbilities." - Alexandra Herold, Founder & CEO of Patti + Ricky
