Adaptive Innovation 02 Mar
Meet the Founder: Matt Skerritt
“Imagine a wheelchair user who can now wear a pair of jeans or a trendy pair of high-top sneakers they love, rather than having to wear a pair of ‘trackies’ because it’s easy and comfortable.”
Ever since I was born, my family has owned and operated nursing homes. This gave me a front-row seat to the challenges the aging and differently-abled population face when getting dressed.
I don’t have a working background in fashion at all. But after years of working at Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC), I know that the suit we put on for work, the shirt we sport on a night out, and the casual jeans we wear on the weekend influences how we show up to live our life. For me, a great outfit gives me a bounce in my step and makes me feel like I can tackle all the problems life throws at me.
Unfortunately, not everyone has the same experience.
When I spent time in the family business and looked closer at the clothes that were offered to the aging population and people with disabilities, all I saw were poor quality, daggy clothing that looked more like medical solutions than actual clothes. These clothes were coined as ‘adaptive’ and featured alterations which made them easier to wear, but they lacked the style, trendiness, and sophistication that is prevalent in mainstream fashion.
It was as if the fashion industry believed that those who were elderly or differently-abled didn’t care how they look or how they presented themselves to the world.
As I continued to have more conversations with people in the disabled community, it became clear that every one of us was seeking the same thing: the ability to choose and wear clothes that make us feel amazing. Yes, fashion is about dignity, but it goes even further to self-expression, identity, independence, and confidence.
This was the inspiration for creating EveryHuman, Australia’s first one-stop-shop for everything adaptive.
Rather than paying through the nose to tailor their clothes, or alter a pair of sneakers, we bring the leading, adaptive clothing brands from around the world to Australia and New Zealand so you have access to fashion that adapts to you.
Imagine a wheelchair user who can now wear a pair of jeans or a trendy pair of high-top sneakers they love, rather than having to wear a pair of ‘trackies’ because it’s easy and comfortable.
More than just a lifestyle platform, we firmly believe in breaking down the stigmas that are associated with disability and creating a more inclusive future. EveryHuman is empowering people to independently express themselves through fashion and achieve their dreams by making life a little easier. Together, let’s build a movement that empowers and inspires every person to proudly show who they are - inside and out.
Matt Skerritt, Founder.
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