'After Losing 80% Mobility, I Couldn’t Wear Regular Clothes. So I Made Fashion for Disabled People'
After arthritis made dressing painful, Kolkata entrepreneur Soumita Basu teamed up with her mother, Amita, to create garments with magnetic closures, side openings and no-bend designs for people with limited mobility.
After arthritis made dressing painful, Kolkata entrepreneur Soumita Basu teamed up with her mother, Amita, to create garments with magnetic closures, side openings and no-bend designs for people with limited mobility.
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Soumita Basu’s ‘Zyenika’ Makes Adaptive Clothing for Indians With Disabilities Photograph: (Soumita Basu)
Source: Soumita Basu
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When getting dressed became a daily struggle
In 2019, arthritis took away nearly 80% of Soumita Basu’s mobility. Tasks she once did effortlessly, like getting dressed, became exhausting and painful. Even hospital visits turned stressful because she had no clothing suited to her needs. What seemed like a personal challenge soon revealed a much larger problem.
Source: Soumita Basu
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A gap hidden in plain sight
As Soumita navigated life with limited mobility, she realised mainstream fashion excluded millions of people. Clothing was rarely designed for those living with arthritis, chronic pain, spinal injuries, disabilities, or age-related stiffness. The struggle wasn’t just physical — it affected confidence and independence too.
Source: Soumita Basu
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A mother-daughter mission
Watching her daughter struggle every day, Amita Basu refused to accept the situation as inevitable. Together, the mother-daughter duo began imagining clothes that were easier to wear without compromising on style. What started as a personal need soon grew into a larger mission.
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Source: Soumita Basu
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Sketches, experiments and Rs 21,000
Armed with just Rs 21,000, Soumita and Amita started working with local tailors to create prototypes. There were countless failed attempts and design revisions. But every setback taught them something new about making clothing more accessible and functional.
Source: Soumita Basu
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The birth of Zyenika
Their efforts led to the launch of Zyenika in 2020, an adaptive clothing brand designed for people with limited mobility. The goal was simple: create garments that help people dress independently while feeling comfortable, confident, and dignified.
Source: Instagram/ @zyenika
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Fashion designed for real needs
Zyenika’s garments feature magnetic closures, Velcro fastenings, concealed openings, side zips, and no-bend trousers. These small design changes make a huge difference for people who struggle with buttons, zippers, or bending. The focus is not on special treatment, but on accessibility.
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Source: Soumita Basu
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Style matters too
For Soumita, adaptive clothing should never look clinical or unfashionable. Every garment is designed to be elegant, modern, and appealing. Her belief is simple: people dress for themselves first, and everyone deserves to feel good when they look in the mirror.
Source: Instagram/ @zyenika
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More than clothes, a sense of independence
The impact of adaptive clothing goes beyond convenience. A kurta with Velcro fastenings can help someone with arthritis dress without assistance. A pair of side-open trousers can spare an elderly person the pain of bending. These changes restore independence in everyday life.
Source: Soumita Basu
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Stories that keep them going
One customer shared that wearing a Zyenika kurta made her feel like herself again. Another memorable case involved a seven-year-old disabled child who struggled to use the washroom independently at school. A customised pair of trousers transformed his experience, helping him regain confidence and participate more freely in daily activities.
Source: Instagram/ @zyenika
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Building a community, not just a brand
As word spread, Soumita discovered that many elderly people, recovering patients, and individuals with invisible disabilities faced similar challenges. Customers began sharing feedback, suggesting improvements, and helping shape future designs. Over time, Zyenika evolved into a community-driven movement.
Source: Soumita Basu
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A village behind every stitch
The brand’s growth was supported by grants, mentors, family members, and loyal customers. Zyenika also collaborates with single mothers, women-led tailoring units, and groups that employ people with disabilities. For Soumita, these partnerships are built on mutual respect and shared purpose
Source: Instagram/ @zyenika
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Inclusivity for everyone
An unexpected discovery soon emerged: adaptive clothing wasn’t useful only for people with disabilities. Professionals with back pain, busy parents, and even people seeking greater convenience appreciated the designs. This insight inspired Zyenika to expand into inclusive fashion for all body types and lifestyles.
Source: Instagram/ @zyenika
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Taking inclusive fashion mainstream
Today, Zyenika is exploring larger retail partnerships and expanding its reach. From a small Rs 21,000 experiment, the brand has grown into a recognised name in adaptive fashion. But the mission remains unchanged: make clothing work for every body.
Source: Soumita Basu
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Every ‘body’ matters
At its heart, Zyenika is about dignity, confidence, and belonging. Soumita believes fashion should adapt to people, not force people to adapt to fashion. Through every garment, she and her mother are proving that empowerment can begin with something as simple and as important as getting dressed.
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Source: The Better India
