After losing 80% of her mobility to psoriatic arthritis, Kolkata-based Soumita Basu co-founded Zyenika with her mother, Amita, to create adaptive clothing that restores dignity and independence for people with disabilities and the elderly.

Starting with just ₹21,000, the brand now serves a growing customer base with stylish, accessible garments featuring magnetic closures, Velcro fastenings, and no-bend trousers. Zyenika, praised by disability advocates and government officials, aims to expand and transform the Indian fashion industry’s approach to inclusivity, while facing challenges like limited funding and production scale.

An Innovative Solution Born from Personal Experience

Soumita Basu’s journey into adaptive fashion began with a harsh personal reality. Diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis, she lost 80% of her mobility, making everyday activities such as dressing a challenge. Conventional clothing often overlooks the unique needs of people with disabilities, ranging from difficulty in pulling on tight garments to struggling with small buttons and zippers.

Soumita’s frustration was not just physical but emotional, recognising how fashion excluded millions like her from expressing themselves freely. Motivated by this exclusion, she teamed up with her mother to develop Zyenika, an adaptive clothing brand that blends style with accessibility.

Their designs feature magnetic closures, Velcro fastenings, and flexible fabrics, all tailored to provide comfort, ease of wear, and aesthetic appeal. “Fashion should not be a barrier but an enabler,” Soumita remarked, highlighting the brand’s mission to restore dignity and independence to those with mobility challenges.

Designing for Dignity and Independence

Zyenika’s clothes are engineered to accommodate a variety of physical conditions. For example, the trousers use side zips to avoid the painful bending often required to put on pants, while shirts avoid buttons in favour of magnets or Velcro to simplify dressing. Fabrics are carefully chosen not only for softness and stretch but also for sensory sensitivities that some disabled and elderly people face.

This thoughtful approach has earned praise from disability rights groups, who often point out that such innovations do more than improve comfort – they enhance self-confidence and social inclusion.

Amita Basu, co-founder, emphasises the emotional impact: “When a person with disability wears clothes designed just for them, it affirms their worth and helps them reclaim their autonomy.” The brand’s growing popularity among customers is reshaping perceptions around disability and fashion in India, encouraging other designers to embrace inclusivity.

Challenges and Growth Prospects

Zyenika’s journey has not been without obstacles. Starting with a modest seed funding of ₹21,000 from their personal savings, the brand operates with a small core team of four and relies on collaborations with local artisans and tailors, including several single mothers from the community.

Despite a positive response, production and scaling remain significant challenges, as adaptive clothing requires specialised materials and meticulous design adjustments which increase costs. The turnover, described as “in the few lakhs” in recent reports, reflects the nascent stage of this market in India.

However, the broader fashion industry in India is beginning to take note of such ventures, with policymakers from the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities commending Zyenika for fostering self-reliance and inclusive entrepreneurship.

Globally, 2025 has marked a year of rising interest in adaptive fashion, with brands experimenting with AI and new textiles to further cater to diverse needs, presenting opportunities for Indian adaptive brands to expand through innovation and collaborations.

Community Impact and Social Resonance

Zyenika is more than a business; it is a movement rooted in communal resilience and empowerment. Soumita’s family plays an integral role – her father manages deliveries, while her sister handles financial operations. Importantly, the brand works with local craftswomen, especially single mothers, providing employment and fostering economic independence.

Through this collective effort, Zyenika exemplifies a sustainable model that combines social entrepreneurship with inclusivity. The brand’s story encourages society to rethink disability not as a limitation but a lens for innovation and inclusion.

As more people with disabilities in India demand products that reflect their needs and styles, Zyenika aims to inspire larger brands to mainstream adaptive clothing, making inclusivity an industry standard rather than a niche initiative.

The Logical Indian’s Perspective

Soumita Basu’s inspiring journey and Zyenika’s mission exemplify how empathy, innovation, and lived experience can drive transformative social change. At The Logical Indian, we endorse efforts that prioritise kindness, dignity, and the inclusion of all members of society.

Adaptive fashion is not merely about clothing-it is about affirming the rights and identities of millions overlooked by mainstream design and commerce. We advocate for greater investment, awareness, and collaboration between government, fashion houses, and disability communities to build a truly inclusive ecosystem.