Image: Detroit Cargo
As stated before in past articles, bicycles and wheelchairs have many things in common where parts and accessories can even be interchangeable. One interchangeable accessory I didn’t really think of is storage. Some types of bicycle storage wouldn’t work well with wheelchairs but these stylish leather bags just might. Made by Detroit Cargo of Warren, Michigan, these bicycle bags could also function as wheelchair bags.
Image: Via Hayneedle
In the beginning, wheelchairs looked a lot like furniture because they were in fact chairs with wheels added onto them. As wheelchairs became more functional and sophisticated their looked moved away from their furniture beginnings. Now in a kind of full circle way, furniture cover maker Sure Fit has made available a wheelchair slipcover that makes modern wheelchairs look like furniture again.
The Universal Design Style Store is now open. To visit just click on the “Store” tab in the menu. Here you can find products that are stylish, helpful, and informative. Everything from books to adaptive equipment with style. Enjoy!
Image: {a href="http://www.chairwear.org/buychairskin.html" target="_blank"}ChairWear{/a}
Designer skins seem to be everywhere now as everyone wants to personalize what they own. Skins are available for cell phones, laptops, game systems, and more. Wheelchair owners like to personalize their wheelchair also to match their style. This can be done with the shape of the wheelchair, colors, and patterns. Now wheelchair users can put a skin on their wheelchair seat backs with a design that fits them. These wheelchair skins are ChairSkins by ChairWear.
Image: {a href="http://www.xenicollection.com/" target="_blank"}Xeni Collection{/a}
Awhile back I wrote an article about IZ Adaptive clothing and their line of stylish adaptive clothing. Fashion is something that expresses our personality and how we want to be perceived. So variety and having choices is very important. Another stylish adaptive clothing choice out there is the Xeni Collection out of the United Kingdom.
Image: {a href="http://www.izadaptive.com/Store/tabid/61/CategoryID/5/List/0/Level/1/ProductID/124/Default.aspx?SortField=EAN+DESC%2cProductName" target="_blank"}IZ Adaptive Clothing{/a}
For many wheelchair users, the daily routine of getting dressed is one of those everyday things that can be a little more time consuming than for non-wheelchair users. Even with the help of a care taker, this can be a tedious task. Mainly because clothes really aren’t designed to be put on while sitting in a chair. Another problem is that clothing can ride up or is not made for a sitting position. Such as raincoats that can leave your lap open when sitting down. After working with a client who is a wheelchair user, Canadian fashion designer Izzy Camilleri worked on making a line of fashionable adaptive clothing. The result was IZ Adaptive Clothing.
Image: {a href="http://www.lemonaidcrutches.com/index.php" target="_blank"}LemonAid{/a}
Let’s talk about crutches. They’re simple pieces of equipment that basically are stiff extra legs that pivot under the armpits. Usually made of either wood or aluminum, they’re hardly a fashion statement. Laurie Johnson decided to change this while having to use crutches during recovery after a tragic airplane accident that claimed the lives of her husband and son. She started LemonAid Crutches and began creating designer crutches. I’ll also note that Johnson has started a non-profit that helps people cope after tragic losses like hers. The organization is called Step with Hope and 50% of LemonAid Crutches profits go towards this cause.
Posted in Fashion and Accessories, Stylish Products
Tagged crutches, custom, Designer Crutches, disabilities, Lemonaid
Image: {a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/87944898/power-wheelchair-bag" target="_blank"}MoBella{/a}
Image: {a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/77095561/carry-bag-for-wheelchairs-and-walkers" target="_blank"}Hooks 'n' Needles{/a}
Etsy is an online market for crafters and artists to sells their works. If you want handmade items made from people who are passionate about their work, this is the place to visit. The other day I decided to see if there were any products made for people with disabilities on Etsy. I came across a few shops that made walker and wheelchair bags. I also came across some shops that sold “handicapped symbol” jewelry! Anyway, most of the shops that sold walker and wheelchair bags had pretty plain patterns or what I’m going to call granny prints. Two shops though stood out from the rest with fresher designs. They are MoBella Bags and Hooks ‘n’ Needles.
Posted in Fashion and Accessories, Stylish Products
Tagged Etsy, Handmade, Hooks 'n' Needles, MoBella, Walker Bags, Wheelchair bags
