All human beings have the right to feel fashionable, says north shore entrepreneur
Short, tall, thin, curvy, able-bodied or not. Everyone should have access to stylish clothes and now, thanks to diversity-inclusive label EveryHuman they do.
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North Shore local Matthew Skerritt was working within the family business which owns and operates a number of aged-care facilities when he noticed something – one of the main challenges for staff who worked there was helping residents to dress.
Not only was it tricky and time-consuming for workers there to wrangle stiff limbs into unforgiving fashion items, it was humiliating for residents who wanted nothing more than to dress themselves and accordingly, retain as much dignity as possible.
Not long afterwards Matthew heard mention of ‘adaptive clothing’. This, he discovered, was lines of clothing created specifically for those who faced physical limitations making what most of us regard as a simple act, dressing ourselves each day, challenging if not completely impossible. He immediately thought of the residents at the age-care facilities, picturing how something like this could completely change their lives.
“I was talking to a friend who has an entrepreneurial mind. He’s always throwing out ideas and he mentioned adaptive clothing to me,” explains Matthew.
“I had never heard of it but the concept made compete sense.”
Matthew immediately began to research the concept and discovered that while adaptive clothing was relatively well-known in the US with fashion brands such as Tommy Hilfiger and NIKE involved, nobody seemed to be specialising in it here.
It didn’t take long for Matthew to decide he ought to step in and fill the gap and not long afterwards the he began working on the brand EveryHuman – a line of clothing for, well, every human.
“The more I researched the more I began to discover that many people, not just older people, struggled to dress themselves and to find fashion they enjoyed,” says Matthew.
“I went to the aged care facilities and showed people the products I had in mind, I went to disability expos, I spoke to parents and colleagues and friends who have a disability and whether they thought there was a need for a clothing line like the one I had in mind and it was just yes yes yes.
“Their jaws would just drop.”
Matthew’s passion project was brought to life in December 2019 and now EveryHuman is available to all.
Its creator gets goose bumps just talking about it.
“Yes, we are selling products but it’s so much more than that,” he explains.
“There’s an amazingly powerful story here in that we are providing choices. We are helping people to become independent and be true to who they are. The message and the mission is deep and it is important. This clothing is changing people’s lives.”
EveryHuman is available online and includes adaptive lifestyle-driven clothing and footwear. The platform features 10 global brands which Matthew believes are leading the charge on adaptive fashion.
EveryHuman has partnered with three causes aligned to the brand that aim to break down the barriers in the disability space. Consumers can purchase one of three T-shirt designs with 100 per cent of profits benefiting their chosen cause.
Further, EveryHuman is committed to employing those with disabilities to fulfil 10 per cent of orders in 2020.
Matthew says, “Our clothes are designed by people who have also faced the challenge of finding, using and loving clothing that works for them. Our mission is to allow people with disabilities to feel and look amazing in stylish clothes just like every other human.”
Australian and New Zealanders can shop the range here