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.

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.

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.

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.

Their efforts led to the launch of Zyenika in 2020, an adaptive clothing brand........

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