When form follows function in fashion, the results aren't usually stylish.
Take cargo shorts, for example. (Which do not need a comeback, thank you very much, Fred Durst.)
But what if clothing could be functional, fashionable, and calm the nervous system?
The Stim Hoodie manages all three by incorporating unique design features into the sweatshirt that help those with autism, ADHD, and anxiety to feel calmer, more focused, and in control, per The Yorkshire Evening Post.
"Built for busy brains"
After a diagnosis of ADHD and autism, 27-year-old Olivia Drewery shared her experiences and challenges on TikTok and Instagram to a growing community.
- She learned about the benefits of stimming (“self stimulatory behavior”), repeated movements that help calm many neurodivergent individuals.
- As an adult, however, she found social stigma exists around stimming, forcing people to mask, or hide, soothing activities like fidget toys.
- Like others with ADHD and/or autism, Drewery also found that certain clothing causes sensory overload due to textures, tags, and tightness.
Then came the a-ha.
Noticing a dearth of clothing designed for people with "busy brains," Drewery launched a fashion brand to help neurodivergent adults navigate these challenges.
Partnering with Loukas Hambi and Sam Wright, she co-founded Club Neuro, a community and brand with sensory-friendly clothing. The team enlisted 4k survey respondents from Drewery's followers to help with development and partnered with Global ADHD Network.
The brand's latest launch, the Stim Hoodie, sells for $103 and includes:
- Removable stress balls discreetly built into cuffs.
- Hidden loops to connect stim toys in the front pocket.
- An oversized hood for noise-canceling headphones.
- Soft, weighted cotton and a tag-free design.
An adaptive clothing renaissance
The Stim Hoodie is part of a rapidly growing market of adaptive clothing, valued at $17.5B in 2025 and expected to grow to $30.3B by 2034.
Adaptive clothing can include everything from magnetic closures and openings for medical devices to soft fabrics and wheelchair-friendly designs.
- While functionality has long taken precedent over style, increasingly brands like Lady Fines are taking a fashion-forward approach.
- The company Gamut developed a seal of approval to ensure adaptive clothing meets certain standards.
- Brands like Target and Tommy Hilfiger have even introduced adaptive clothing lines.
And, hey, maybe Fred Durst was onto something with all those pockets. They can be pretty useful.
