Optivus

Why we platform Optivus

This brand was created by Cristel, a mother who was inspired by her son Liam's determination to express his own style.

Liam has a rare metabolic disorder that affects his ability to metabolise protein and this resulted in severe brain damage. His stiff limbs and spasms made getting dressed a painstaking task, but from a young age he made his preferences clear, using his eyes and hands to choose what he wanted to wear. His choices were his own, and Cristel wanted to create clothing that recognised that sense of individuality rather than having limited clothing ranges imagine his own style. 

That idea became the foundation for Optivus.

Adaptive clothing with an urban edge

By combining the practicality of adaptive clothing with the look and feel of contemporary streetwear, Optivus designs clothing with features such as easy-to-use fastenings, adjustable elements and soft, sensory-friendly fabrics, making dressing more manageable for both the wearer and their caregiver without compromising on personal style.

Optivus' ethos is summed up in its message: “Dress for life, not limitations.” It is a simple statement, but one that captures what adaptive fashion should be about - creating clothing around people's lives, preferences and personalities rather than asking people to adapt themselves to their clothes.

Optivus brings together adaptive design and contemporary urban streetwear, creating clothing that looks like clothing first and adaptive clothing second. Designed to feel modern, relaxed and wearable, moving away from the clinical aesthetic that has traditionally dominated adaptive clothing. The result is a range that allows people to enjoy the same high street available fashion and wear with comfort, individuality and a style that feels like them.

Options for Everyone

With an including a unisex range for adults and a new collection for children, there is something for everyone. Jeans that fully open at the side, front opening jeans and jeans with no front or back pockets for the wearing in a seated position. Their kids jacket has fully open sleeve opening so there is no need to bend your arm to put it on.

Whether you're looking for easier fastenings and loop pulls, sensory-friendly fabrics or simply contemporary streetwear that doesn't look like traditional adaptive clothing, Optivus is challenging the idea that practical clothing has to be boring.

Clothes that work for you

Rather than designing clothing around what someone cannot do, Optivus focuses on what can make getting dressed easier, more comfortable and more personal. It is a subtle but important shift in perspective: accessibility isn't about stripping away choice in order to make something functional. Good adaptive design can actually create more choice.

This is why we include Optivus in our carefully curated list of brands at Never Grey.