About Us
We are Malaysia's first adaptive clothing brand, a Social Enterprise dedicated to designing adaptive clothing that is fashionable, comfortable, and affordable for all. Our clothing is a functional solution for people with dressing difficulties or simply anyone who wants to experience a more easy dressing process.
By combining modern technology and our creative touch, we are bringing empowerment back by making independent dressing possible again. Everyone deserves the opportunity to dress up with dignity and have comfortable clothing that looks good. At Dawn Adaptive we are passionate about improving the quality of life for our customers!
OUR MISSION
To create ethical adaptive clothing design that understands fashion just as much as it functions and to support inclusivity, diversity and promote opportunities for all.
OUR VISION
To build a community of hope through innovation
OUR FOUNDERS
USHA G. NAIR
FOUNDER & CEO
DAWN ADAPTIVE was founded in 2020 by Usha G. Nair, a mom of 2 daughters whose younger one has a disability. The idea behind Dawn Adaptive started because of her daughter Ivanna, a bubbly, witty, energetic, and curious girl who was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy when she was just a baby.
Usha’s career path took a new direction when she noticed Ivanna’s diagnosed condition impacted her ability to do various daily tasks on her own. Ivanna struggles to do the simple things that most of us take for granted, such as buttoning a shirt. This opened Usha’s eyes to a bigger issue - that there are many other people with disabilities in Malaysia who were also struggling to access easy-wear and fashionable clothing options.
Realizing this, she decided to create Dawn Adaptive to make fashion more inclusive, and accessible to all. Clothing that works for everyone, including the differently-abled community. She believes that every person, no matter their age, gender, socio-economic status, or ability, should have access to fashion that inspires confidence and self-expression.
Dawn Adaptive also aims to build a working community by creating opportunities for economically disadvantaged groups such as people with disabilities. To achieve this, Dawn Adaptive supports skilled individuals with disabilities to be part of the growth of the company. For instance, Dawn Adaptive company logo was created by Loga Rajah, a talented graphic designer diagnosed with lower mobility impairment.
Usha believes that the fashion industry needs to become more inclusive of people with disabilities, from the design process, marketing campaigns to the retail experience and customer service.
BERNARD BENZAMIN NATHAN
CO-FOUNDER & CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Being diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 3 at the age of two years old, Bernard knows well the struggles people with physical limitations face when it comes to dressing up. Also having had experience in his first company DON Management, a talent & modelling agency that works with and casts differently-abled and alternative models, Bernard has always had a passion working in the fashion industry and making bold moves to break whatever stigma and barriers that hinders us from moving towards a more inclusive society. When the two friends Bernard and Usha met one fine day, with the same idea in mind of creating an adaptive clothing brand. They instantly connected and thus a new partnership was established and Dawn Adaptive was born.