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Neurodivergency brands

Expecto_Patronum

I'm intrigued by people's opinions on neurodivergent branding. I'm seeing lots of clothes brands pop up that have autism/ADHD/neurodivergency slogans etc as their branding. As much as I'm fully behind neurodivergency awareness and acceptance, I have zero desire to wear clothing symbolising it. It seems an odd concept to me to have your disability written on your clothes. I can accept my autism and ADHD without needing to literally wear them and I don't need every person I pass in the street knowing that I'm AuDHD. Each to their own and if people enjoy wearing such things then fair enough. I just wondered how other people feel about these clothes?

  • in reply to Peter

    And that is fair enough. This is why I was intrigued whether it was just something that wasn't for me or whether others felt the same.

  • It's a stylish alternative to a sunflower lanyard. I wear my autism t shirt at the jobcenter offten.

  • I just went and had a look at some of these brands, I dont' wear hats, I don't wear t-shirts or hoodies, so not for me then.

  • in reply to Joe

    I wear my "Weaponised Autism" tee shirt with pride.

    (Under my jumper, of course, unless it NEEDS to be seen)

  • in reply to Bunny

    I think the problem with neurodivergent friendly clothing is everyone's sensory sensitivities are different. Some people, for example, love tight clothing whereas I cannot stand clothes to be tight. I don't think advertising "autism friendly" clothing works. It needs to be advertised as seamless or soft material etc. The specifics of what it's doing. As goes the phrase "if you've met one autistic person, you've met one autistic person". What is friendly clothing for one, will not necessarily be for everyone else.

    But it is your point on the logos and the depictions of ASC and ADHD brains etc that bother me about the clothing. I just don't feel the need to walk round in clothing that tells people that neurodivergency exists. If people are not yet aware, me walking round in clothes telling them is probably not going to help.

  • If I like the T-shirt I will wear it - I have an NAS one for example Slight smile as I liked it. 

    These days I tend to wear a sunflower lanyard when I'm out and about as I never know when something might happen and it will help for people to know I'm autistic.  I also think that the more visible we are, the more we break down the stigma. 

    Don't like the idea of people doing it as a fashion statement though.  Also I just googled 'Autism branded clothes' and there are some truly hideous things especially the stuff with jigsaw pieces, clashing colours and dodgy messages!

  • in reply to Bunny

    I’m with you… soft stretchy fabrics. 

  • I find it astonishing that so many of these new brands, which are supposedly neurodivergent- or specifically autism-friendly, are designed in ways that fail to accommodate the sensory hypersensitivities that so many of us have.

    My favourite clothes that are genuinely autism-friendly are made with a mix of soft, stretchy fabrics that include bamboo and elastane. They have flat seams, soft necklines, no labels, and - on most items - minimal or no branding. This latter point minimises or completely avoids the irritation that can so easily be caused by such things as printed slogans, or printed or embroidered graphic designs or logos.

    By contrast, so many of these new brands seem to feature 100% cotton (which I find uncomfortably restrictive, and often also too rough) and are plastered with huge slogans and/or logos and/or other graphic designs. Not to mention the questionable design choices (eg who really wants to walk around with a depiction of a brain on their top?).

    I certainly shan't be buying any of these kinds of trendy, statement items, regardless of whether some or all of the profits are destined for charities. It's a "bah humbug" from me! :)

  • I wasn't aware of them, unless they were in my personal style and in colours I like I wouldn't choose them over other clothes. I doubt they'd be in my sizes anyway and if not it would probably upset and annoy me and I would challenge people as I have brands that claim eco credentials, the clothes are all made for tiny people and my challenge is 'am I to big to be eco friendly?'

    I think this is a marketing gimmick to be honest, trying to make a thing out of othering, if you other yourself then your not really othered. I bet these clothes are really expensive too?