Q: Tell us about Flex-A-Tee
Flex-A-Tee is an accessible wear t-shirt for the adaptive/inclusive wear sector. It was developed through my experience assisting my mother, who with dementia, would not always move her arms when getting dressed. Design and development began in February 2018 and it came to market in mid-2020.
The following will take you to Flex-A-TEE website:
Q: What product does Flex-A-Tee clothing provide?
Flex-A-Tee is an easily accessible t-shirt for people with restricted upper body range of movement. The Flex-A-Tee opens and closes with press studs across both shoulders. Therefore, the lifting movement of arms and shoulders, which make getting into and out of a standard shirt difficult, is removed.
I have made Flex-A-Tee to be very accessible, it is designed so it can be worn with the press stud opening facing either forwards or backwards, part of the secret to its ease of accessibility.
Q: How do you work with the NDIS to assist your customers?
I received my NDIS provider registration in Sept 2020. I am able to provide my product through:
- Plan managed clients
- Agency managed clients
- Self-managed clients.
I have aimed to make the product competitively priced, even though it is a more complicated garment to manufacture than a regular style t-shirt I have ensured it is a very high quality product. Furthermore, it is part of the low cost budget so, if at the end of the year, an NDIS participant realises they have a small amount left in their budget, it is a product that can be purchased to help use the funds allocated in a specific year.
Q: What was the catalyst for you starting Flex-A-Tee?
The t-shirt was developed as a result of the difficulties in dressing my mother. Whilst working with her carers to find a way to get her in and out of shirts easily. I came to realise there was a wider audience for accessible fashion which allows people to dress with less stress and more dignity.
In an ironic twist, I was diagnosed with a frozen shoulder, and am now truly aware what relief accessibility clothing brings to an injury.
Q: What are Flex-A-Tee’s important differentiating factors for people, with movement issues, who are looking at clothing that is comfortable and accessible?
For me the number one differentiating factor is Flex-A-Tee is designed with no specific front or back. This means the wearer can wear the shirt with the press stud opening facing
backwards or forwards - making it adaptable to each person’s specific needs. I believe this adds to the ease of wearing the t-shirt. Another important difference is the shoulder connection using press studs as opposed to Velcro. Velcro can get dirty over time and cause skin irritation if the shirt is not fastened correctly.
Q: Where do you see Flex-A-Tee in the future?
I would like to see Flex-A-Tee grow so that people who need an easily accessible shirt can purchase it and make their life so much easier.
The Flex-A-Tee will allow a lot of people who require a carer to dress them get dressed with less assistance.
I want to be able to give wearers greater comfort as for some people the simple act of getting dressed is a difficult activity.
Q: If you were to use three words to describe Flex A Tee’s what would they be?
Making dressing easier!
Author: Torrance Kassabian
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