MOTHERS (AND GRANDMOTHERS) DAY COMING SOON!

It is just 10 days until Mothers (and not forgetting Grandmothers) Day. It can be difficult deciding what to get so we have put together a list to help. This year get your mother or grandmother something they will really appreciate. Get them something that is practical and thoughtful. Get them independence, confidence and pride through The Able Label clothes. 

1.) Bella Jersey Scarf (£15.95)

At only £15.95, they’re a lovely gift. Made from viscose/elastane, they feel gorgeous against the skin and are a great way to complete an outfit. The scarf is 73.6” / 187cm long so can be tied up in a number of stylish ways or left luxuriously untied as modelled. 

Available in three colours Shibori Navy, Dragon Red and Ginkgo Print.

2.) Maria Jersey Vest (£25 or £20.83 excl VAT)

This vest is like no other. It avoids overhead dressing by fastening at the front with easy touch Velcro closures. It also has adjustable straps allowing you to alter the strap length helping to prevent the strap from falling off of your shoulder. The vest is long enough to tuck in keeping your lower back warm, an area which is more likely to feel the cold.

Available in two colours Shibori Navy and Blossom White.

3.) Linda Wrap Top (£47.50 or £39.58 excl VAT)

The beautiful wrap top allows you to dress into it without the need to put it over your head, a movement which can be particularly challenging. Simply wrap around you and fasten securely with the easy touch closure you and you're ready to go. Raglan sleeves, super stretchy fabric and clear colours highlighting the armholes make it easier to get your arms into the wrap top.

Available in three colours Shibori Navy, Dragon Red and Ginkgo Print.

4.) Rosie Pearl Stretch Bracelet (£25)

No fiddly fastenings with this charming pearl stretch bracelet measuring approximately 6.5 inches (16.5cm) before stretch. Available in two colours that coordinate perfectly with the clothing range. This is just one piece from a matching three piece set that includes a magnetic fastening necklace and pearl drop earrings. All our jewellery is handmade in Britain so if you would like something altered slightly, let us know and we will see what we can do!

 Available in three colours Shibori Navy and Dragon Red.

5.) Frankie Straight Leg Trouser (£45 or £37.50 excl VAT)

Made from a breathable viscose with high drape, these trousers are not only practical, they look great to. With added stretch, dressing into them is easier and wearing them is more comfortable. Adding to the ease of dressing, there are absolutely no fastenings at the waistband, just pull up and down was a very flattering high rolled waist detail. A very versatile trouser they will see you through a variety of occasions.

Available in regular or short leg lengths.

Find the full The Able Label range online

INTO THE DRAGONS DEN

Canterbury Christ Church University

Canterbury Christ Church University has been around for over 50 years and based in Kent, plays a huge role in making a positive difference to peoples lives.

Katie our founder was fortunate enough to be invited along to the Occupational Therapy (BSc) Hons final year group assessment day for their Innovation and Entrepreneurship module. The module aims to utilise the group’s knowledge of occupation to investigate and respond to emerging opportunities for service development and entrepreneurial practice. The course enabled students to develop abilities in collaboration, negotiation, planning and presentation within deadlines. Katie said, “What I liked so much about this module in particular is that it has really encouraged students to think outside the box. It is encouraging them to take their learning’s and apply them in a way that they perhaps would not have considered previously”.

Sat on the ‘Dragons Den panel’, Katie was seated between the Universities Student Enterprise Manager, helping students with career development and also the business manager who leads several business modules at the University.  

Canterbury Christ Church University Occupational Therapy BSc (Hons)
students presenting for the Innovation and Enterprise module

Katie said, “We were all overwhelmed by the extremely high standard amongst the four groups of eight we assessed. There was a real buzz in the room as each group stepped up to give their presentation. The attention to detail was fantastic and it was evident that these students had put much thought and effort into the module, which they all clearly enjoyed. Some groups had even gone to the effort of creating prototypes and websites to support their ideas. This was all within the six weeks timeframe they were given! They all generated business plans to support gaps in the market they had identified, encouraging them to take ideas to the next level considering how to make them a feasible business”.

So much consideration had gone in, the groups has no issues with answering questions that the panel through at them after their presentations as they’d all clearly done their homework!

Katie concluded, “It is so great to see young talent being encouraged to think entrepreneurially. There were so many fantastic ideas in the room and bringing groups together to encourage group working and also start considering how to make feasible businesses from the ideas was wonderful to see and be involved with”.

The students will find out how they did in a few months time and Katie looks forward to sitting on the next panel in May.

If you would like to find out more about Canterbury Christ Church University and the Occupational Therapy course, you can do so by clicking on the links below:

Canterbury Christ Church University
Canterbury Christ Church University – Occupational Therapy BSc (Hons) course

VALENTINES DAY - CHERISH LOVED ONES

Katie, The Able Label's Founder, recently interviewed her 93 year old grandfather about her grandmother who had Parkinson’s and is sadly no longer around. Before she passed away, they celebrated their 50^th wedding anniversary together. He is not in the slightest bit an old romantic but the interview melted all our hearts!

Katie's grandpa and grandma together

Q. How did you meet grandma?

A. Your grandmother had just got back from America where she went to be an au pair and was very home sick at the start. A mutual friend got a group of us together and we were introduced, instantly getting on. We spent two years courting before we got married. I couldn’t have asked for a better wife.

Q. What impact did grandma have on your life?

A. My first wife died when your dad was only twelve. This was very hard especially with three boys to care for. But after meeting your grandma, she just fitted in and raised the boys as if they were her own without ever trying to replace their mother. We didn’t rush anything wanting to see how it all worked out but life with her just got better and better. We had the most wonderful holidays together which I will never forget.

Q. How did you propose to grandma?

A. Your grandma wanted a future to look forward to together and that meant marriage. So eventually I built up the courage and asked her ‘how about getting married?’ and she instantly replied, ‘yes, I’d love to!’ I didn’t get down on my hands and knees or anything like that.

Q. When did you notice something wasn’t right with grandma?

A. I saw her hand tremor when she sat next to me in the chair one evening. I told her to keep it still but she couldn’t, even after holding it. I took her to the doctors but it was difficult to diagnose. Only when the Parkinson’s developed to a point where her speech was affected did she get a diagnosis with a specialist saying, ‘you’ve got Parkinson’s disease my dear’.

Q. How did your life change together?

A. Dementia started kicking in. She was forgetting a lot of straightforward things. Did things she never did before, silly things. I had to put her to bed each night. She’d wake up at 2am thinking someone was at the door, or that she’d left the lights on - I knew then her memory was going.  But we worked together and muddled through as best we could. She used to start doing the veg and not complete them, so I’d finish them off.

As the Parkinson’s progressed, sometimes she wouldn’t say a word, which was tough. Other times, I’d tell her how much I loved her and she would reply, ‘I know you do you silly old fool’ and I knew Sheila was still there.

Q. What will you always remember grandma for?

Without a doubt her love of clothes – she had wardrobes full and some things she’d never even worn! She wouldn’t buy anything cheap and cheerful, it had to be good quality. She knew good clothes and particularly loved dresses. I used to tell her, ‘you’re worse than the Queen’ as she never seemed to wear anything twice! Twice a month, she’d go on shopping trips with her friend Molly and always came back loaded with bags!

I will never forget one floral dress she had – she looked stunning in it. It stands out in my memory more than anything. When I think of her, I think of her wearing that dress.

It makes me so proud that you share her love of clothes and especially that you are doing clothes that would help people in the same situation she was in. She desperately wanted to keep her style but became unable to dress into it. She would have been equally as proud and would have loved The Able Label clothes.

This Valentines Day, spare a thought for those who have lost loved ones and cherish the moments you do have with your loved ones.

WE LISTENED AND WE'RE EXPANDING!

It has been an action packed four months since The Able Label started selling their beautiful adaptive clothes specifically designed to make dressing easier. Throughout that time, we have been asking our lovely customers for as much feedback a possible.

Very positive, we understand you particularly love the quality of our fabrics, the flattering, feminine fits and of course the ease that they give you dressing into and out of.

'I have worn the trousers and shirt a couple of times now... Very comfortable! Also, because the shirt doesn't have cuffs and is stretchy, I can wear them with ease over my splints even with the sleeves down. No more having to roll them up, or discomfort from them being too tight!'

-Helen, has rheumatoid arthritis, from Devon

'I was very surprised by the range, it is easier to dress but actually looks stylish as well. They are pretty yet practical and there is nothing else like this around.'

-Su, had a stroke 24 years ago, from London

We did however discover that you want more from us! In particular, more options within the range. Well, we have listened and we’re expanding! Founder Katie was with the factory last week and all is on track for the new styles, which will be added to the collection this summer.

You can of course still expect the same high quality, attention to detail and easier dressing designs and fastenings as before. This season though, it will all be done with more colour which we know you love! We have also introduced new fabric qualities and shapes that will flatter the figure and feel great on.

So keep an eye out for the new designs that will be ready for April to take you through the warmer period.

To find out more about what goes on behind the scenes to create our beautiful adaptive clothes, take a look at our blog article ‘research to rail’.