FOREVER IN BLUE JEANS

Paul Haidon, the brains behind Hewinson, said: “In our 25 years of experience in adaptive fashion, what we’ve heard time and time again from wheelchair users is the fact that they seem to be able to find functional or stylish jeans; never the two together. We desperately wanted to solve that problem by designing a pair of jeans that not only looked great, but offered unparalleled comfort by taking into account the specific needs of wheelchair users who remain in seated positions for long periods of time. “We pored over the prototypes for a very long time to ensure we had every element of the design just right, and we’re pleased to say that that’s exactly what we’ve achieved; a stylish, comfortable pair of jeans, that just so happen to be specifically tailored for wheelchair users. We believe firmly that ‘adapted’ needn’t sacrifice style and style needn’t sacrifice comfort. We’ve married the two.” Manufactured in the UK, Hewinson jeans are designed to be comfortable and functional. Made of stretchy, soft denim, they’re tailored specifically to be well-fitting when the wearer is in a seated position, and don’t feature any back pockets, which they say mitigates the risk of the wearer developing pressure-related sores while they’re wearing the jeans - as do the jeans’ unique flat seams. They also have an extra-long zip, elasticated waist and reinforced belt loops, so the wearer can pull them on and off easily without worrying about compromising the integrity of their jeans. Founder of The Wheel Life on YouTube and Instagram George Dowell praised the brand for offering a “fashionconscious solution” to the issue of fashion brands providing adaptive clothing options. He said: “As a wheelchair user, I know first-hand how difficult it is to find comfortable, styleconscious clothes that take the unique needs of someone in a seated position into account; something I don’t think the wider fashion industry has really managed to grasp as yet. It’s really refreshing to see a brand like Hewinson not only thrust this issue into the spotlight, but offer a fashionconscious solution to what is a real need for more adaptive designs on the market.” The brand has launched their signature jeans in a few styles, with more colours planned for release later in the year. At the moment, the classic stonewash jeans are available for men and women in a regular, straight-cut fit. They also offer trackies for men and women in two colours - these trousers are designed for everyday wear, and the ultra-soft brushed cotton lining makes them ideal loungewear. Hewinson are planning on expanding their brand to offer hoodies and jackets - which will of course be designed with the needs of wheelchair users in mind - in early 2023. Hewinson jeans can be purchased from their website, hewinson.com. Men’s and women’s jeans are priced at £65 with sizes ranging from 30-52”, and two leg lengths. Men’s and women’s trackies are available for £52, available in sizes XS-XXL, in two leg lengths, and two colours, black or grey.

That’s why we took SpeediCath® Flex and turned it into a set. You get Triple Action Coating Technology, our unique hydrophilic coating, which helps reduce your risk of UTI and injury to your urethra.* Its flexible tip and dry-sleeve design make insertion gentle and hygienic. And the SpeediCath Flex Set features an all-new bag. It’s dry to the touch and easy to open and empty so your hands and clothes stay dry. So now you can catheterise with no mess wherever you like – and get on with your day.

Request your free samples today and our product specialist will support you through your trial

For your FREE SpeediCath® Flex Set Sample Pack, fill out the form below, pop in an envelope and post to FREEPOST COLOPLAST (that’s all, no stamp required).

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DESIGN Discover the impact that selfcatheterisation can have on independence

oloplast are a globally-renowned company that cater for people with intimate healthcare needs. They develop products and services that help make life easier for anyone requiring ostomy care, continence care, wound and skin care, or intervention urology. They produce an innovative range of products to aid people who live with bladder and bowel problems. It may sound like a daunting and near impossible task for anyone who requires a catheter to manage their bladder, however, we recently spoke to Tracey Murphy, Coloplast senior specialist nurse to find out more about the impact self-catheterisation can have on people’s lives, and she enlightened us on how easy this process can be and how life-changing it can be. There are many reasons that a person may need to use a catheter, which include, spinal cord injury, MS, or damage to the bladder or bowel. The problem with indwelling catheters is that they are quite restrictive on a person’s freedom and independence. Indwelling catheters are permanent fixtures that serve a very important purpose but mean the user must use a bag to collect the urine in throughout the day and night. This method, while it serves an important purpose, is often not the only option, but few people realise that there are other choices out there.

The concept of self-catheterisation is not a new idea, however, many people are still not aware of the benefits of this practice. When speaking with Tracey, it became immediately clear how passionate the team at Coloplast were about raising awareness of, not only the ease of selfcatheterising, but also the life-changing impact it can have on a person’s confidence and mental health. Tracey highlighted how important it was to educate health professionals as well as patients to the benefits that self-catheterisation can have for most people. For young people in their teens who are living with a catheter and bag, which is usually strapped to their leg, this can adversely affect their mental health and confidence to enjoy the same experiences as their peers. Living with a catheter and bag can put young people off sleepovers, swimming activities, holidays with friends, and much more. If a person is a candidate for self-catheterisation, this can transform their life and give them back some real independence in their intimate healthcare needs. Coloplast have developed an incredible range of selfcatheterisation products to suit any user. These products allow users to visit the bathroom and self-catheterise throughout the day in any venue or situation, without having a catheter inserted on a permanent basis. The main concern over self-catheterisation is the ability to be able to insert the catheter on their own and the risk of infection. However, Coloplast have prioritised infection control, ease-of-use and discreet packaging throughout their range of products, and their team of specialist nurses are there to support customers to ensure every user can self-catheterise properly, safely and confidently. They even have a catheter that is designed to look at home in any make-up bag, SpeediCath Compact Eve is designed with a triangular shape to offer secure grip and easy handling, but it has also been designed to be very discreet and would be easily mistaken for a lip gloss or mascara. And the new SpeediCath Flex Set which is a dry sleeved catheter with drainage bag attached for gentle, easy and hygienic catheterisation – home or away.

Coloplast know the difference using selfcatheterisation can have on people’s daily lives, and they are passionate about raising awareness of this. To find out more about the products and services they offer, please visit coloplast.co.uk.