When Usha Gopalan Nair's daughter was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at 18 months old, she realised that finding clothes for children with special needs can be challenging and at most times, costly.
Her daughter, Ivanna Nehandra Tara, now 17, models for Dawn Adaptive, a clothing line for special needs people, which she founded last year.
"Dawn Adaptive is a social enterprise platform using fashion as a tool to eradicate negative perceptions of people with disabilities.
"Ivanna struggles with mobility on the right arm and both legs. Cerebral palsy has impacted her ability to do various daily tasks on her own. Due to the difficulties in dressing up, she prefers T-shirts and baggy clothes.
"Like her older sister Rheanna Deandra, 19, Ivanna is a model.
"She has wheeled down the runway at Selangor Fashion Week and has also modelled for other local Malaysian brands."
Usha, 52, later noticed Ivanna was struggling with changing clothes backstage.
She then realised that there were many others who were struggling to find comfortable but fashionable clothing options.
When she enrolled Ivanna into Don Management, a modelling agency for the differently-abled, she met the owner, Bernard Benzamin Nathan.
"Bernard is diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 3 at the age of 2, so he knows the struggles people with physical limitations face when it comes to dressing up.
"So we started talking and decided to start the adaptive clothing brand here in Malaysia last year," she recalled.
For their first collection, Usha and Bernard produced polo shirts with magnetic buttons.
"The normal buttons are still sewn on the shirt to make it appear like any other shirt. The magnetic ones are useful for those who have less strength in their hands and facing dexterity issues.
"Even if they are not dressing for themselves, this function will make it easier for their caretakers."
Usha said she did a lot of research and development to ensure the product was of superior quality.
"We have also paid attention to little details, such as placing the labels at the bottom side of the T-shirt instead of behind the neck because it can cause irritation, especially to people with autism."
Usha hoped with Dawn Adaptive, people with disabilities would be able to express themselves through fashion without having to worry about their disability getting in the way.
Dawn Adaptive also offered solutions during the Covid-19 pandemic, especially for those who rely on visual cues or have a hearing impairment, with the Smile Mask — a reusable fabric mask that has a clear transparent panel across the mouth.
"The mask is to protect from the virus, but also to improve communication and add human connection, a solution for persons with hearing impairment and/or for those who depend on visual cues to understand what a speaker is saying."
In the future, Usha expressed interest to partner with local designers and brands and make Dawn Adaptive their platform for creating clothes for those with disabilities.
"It's time to raise awareness about inclusion for everyone in the fashion industry. Help us end the segregation between able-bodied and the differently-abled, " she said.