Active College Club Participation
On March 2023, for the first time, MAI We Care participated on The Adaptive Exhibit led by Runway of Dreams Club at Marist College in New York @runwayofdreamsmarist. During this exhibit, we shared the floor with fashion adaptive apparel brands and dressed talented models with disabilities for a powerful, stylish & revolutionary exhibit! The Adaptive Exhibit at Marist College was a total success! This participation led us to be part of many other college exhibits and adaptive fashion shows, including @runwayofdreamsduke, @ksurunwayofdreams, @runwayofdreamsumich, @runwayofdreams.udel among others.
All these college clubs, hosted by Runway of Dreams, showcased on their runways adaptive fashion from a variety of different companies and brands from around the world, including Zappos Adaptive (zappos.com & @zappos), No Limbits (no-limbits.com), One Leg Up (onelegupbrand.com) and a collection of small adaptive brands. All with the same mission: to empower people with disabilities through fashion inclusion.
First time in an Adaptive Fashion Show during New York Fashion Week
Today we are honored to be part of the upcoming Runway of Dreams Foundation ́s A FASHION REVOLUTION 2023 RUNWAY SHOW! During this exciting event dozens of adaptive industry companies will come together and proudly share the runway to feature their adaptive apparel, footwear and accessories worn by +70 talented models of different ages, ethnicities, backgrounds and disabilities. https://www.runwayofdreams.org/copy-of-a-fashion-revolution-ny-2022
The Fashion Revolution 2023 Runway Show will take place during New York Fashion Week on Wednesday, September 13, 2023 at 6:00 pm and will be hosted at Powerhouse Arts facility in Brooklyn, NY. Save the Date, and together with MAI We Care, come witness the runway where dreams become reality, and diversity shines its brightest!
Read all about this exciting event at runwayofdreams.org or follow @runwayofdreams @maiwecare for updates and upcoming events. The exhibit has been made possible by key individuals form the Runway of Dreams Foundation, especially Mindy Scheier @mindyscheier
#RunwayOfDreams #AFashionRevolution #NYFW2023 #adaptivefashion #adaptiveclothing #adaptiveclothes #functionalfashion #inclusiveclothing #inclusivefashion #inclusivedesign #disabled #peoplewithdisabilities #MaiWeCare #thisisMAIjourney
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“We started with our mothers going through chemo… but we’ve helped a lot of people along the way. We’ve helped athletes [get dressed and undressed] with shoulder surgery shirts or helped patients with their recovery from rotator cuff surgery, we’ve helped caregivers [take care of their patients] with dignity.” - Adriana, co-founder at MAI We Care.
At MAI We Care, we are thankful for having had the opportunity to be part of Guatemala’s first Paralympic Race #WeThe15. The race took place in Guatemala City on Sunday, May 14 at 7:30 am. Hundreds of people of all ages, with and without disabilities participated during the race. Some walked, other ran distances ranging from 5 to 10 kilometers. 🏃♂️👩🦽 💜 At the end of the race, all the participants received their recognition medal as a gesture of gratitude and effort.
The first ever Paralympic Race in was organized in benefit of para-athletes in Guatemala. The funds collected will be allocated in different programs, with the mission of helping athletes achieve their dreams though sports.
At MAI We Care, we join @copag.oficial on aiming to make a society that is more inclusive through sports! 👏🏻 Congratulations @copag.oficial for the amazing job!
]]>As we cared for her, I saw how the nurses would only use hospital robes because they had easy access to her catheter. However, these robes are lightweight and short sleeved, therefore my grandma was very cold all the time.
In comes MAI We Care to our lives!
MAI’s women’s long sleeve shirt kept my grandma warm and was easy for the nurses to access her catheter. She loved the soft fabric and was frustrated when it needed to be washed. She loved her MAI We Care shirts!
]]>We both saw the two women we loved the most go through unbearable pain. To somewhat alleviate their daily tasks, we created clothing that would grant them the soft and warm touch that they needed after their chemotherapy sessions.
We iterated different materials, zippers, velcros, and buttons until we finally figured out a snapping technique that was easy to put on, wear, and remove. The least we could do for our mothers, was to give them a little bit of love so they could go on with their therapies with comfort and dignity.
This is how MAI We Care brand was created.
We started with our mothers going through chemo on our minds, but we have helped a lot of people along the way.
We have helped athletes and patients after a shoulder, elbow, hip or knee surgery to get dressed and undressed with ease.
We have soothed the day of people in wheelchairs or with a prosthetic leg.
We have helped caregivers access their patients with dignity.
Now we are helping a whole world of people who live with disabilities, by making their day by day easier.
MAI combines the names of our mothers, María Olga and Isa, because it’s only fitting that our source of inspiration is at the forefront of our brand. “We Care” follows it because shortly after starting to craft adaptive clothes did we realize that what propelled us forward was impact.
This is the story of an impact-first brand that was born out of the homes of two women in Guatemala who now have the mission to change lives beyond their hometown and help people all around the world.
When we talk about impact, we are talking about millions of lives that can be dramatically changed through comfortable, highly functional and adaptive clothing, allowing them to dress and undress with ease. Both the patient and the caregiver get a break when clothes are created for people’s needs.
MAI We Care, an adaptive clothing brand, designed to adapt to your needs!
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"The purpose of this exhibit is to spread the mission of the Runway of Dreams organization to empower people with disabilities through fashion inclusion", as explained in the @runwayofdreamsmarist press release. The Runway of Dreams Foundation empowers disabled people to have confidence and self-expression through fashion and beauty inclusion. Their focus is to raise awareness, educate consumers, advocate for industry change, and develop the next generation of innovators.
Runway of Dreams is rethinking the runway with global adaptive fashion shows that celebrate people’s differences, break down stereotypes and empower people with disabilities with confidence, independence, and style.
The Adaptive Exhibit at Marist College is just one of the many college exhibits and runways where adaptive fashion from a variety of different companies and brands from around the world are being showcased, including MAI We Care. All with the same mission: to empower people with disabilities through fashion inclusion.
Runway of Dreams College Clubs are developing exhibits like this one, that in return drive multi-generational change in the fashion industry. They also host panel discussions with adaptive apparel experts, advocates and people with disabilities and organize adaptive runway shows on their campuses featuring local models of diversity in backgrounds and disabilities.
At MAI We Care, we are so thankful and honored to be showcased in the Runway of Dreams Club at Marist Adaptive Fashion Gallery Exhibit. We are sure that events like this will help spread this mission around the world.
The exhibit has been made possible by key individuals in Marist's Fashion Program as well as the Runway of Dreams Foundation, especially Mindy Scheier, Dawn Schwartz, and Jeanine Cramblett.
The Adaptive Exhibit will be opened from January 26 through March 12, 2023 from 5:00 – 7:00 pm at the Steel Plant Gallery at Marist College in New York.
Follow @runwayofdreamsmarist @runwayofdreams and join the mission of empowering people with disabilities through fashion inclusion.
Read more of this exciting exhibit: https://www.runwayofdreams.org/the-adaptive-exhibit-marist-college
#adaptivefashion #adaptiveclothing #adaptiveclothes #functionalfashion #inclusiveclothing #inclusivefashion #inclusivedesign #disabled #peoplewithdisabilities #MaiWeCare #thisisMAIjourney
]]>The following dressing / undressing guide and clothing recommendations, can help you make this process a lot easier for you, making your recovery better.
1. Ask for help. Right after surgery, you will have swelling. Pain and mobility will be difficult. Painkillers may also compromise your balance and mobility. Therefore, in the days following your shoulder surgery, it’s a good idea to have a friend or family member around to take care of you. They will surely be helpful with many essential tasks, including dressing and undressing yourself. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
2. One-handed dressing techniques. Once you are ready to begin dressing yourself, follow these steps to get your upper body dressed using one hand:
Practice these techniques ahead of your surgery, to gain some experience, especially if your procedure will be done on your dominant arm.
3. Loose, oversized garments. Wearing loose-fitting clothing that is easy to put on and take off, might be a good idea. Pull-on shirts and pants with elastic waistbands are helpful so that you don’t have to bother with closures in the aftermath of your surgery.
4. Front-opening shirts. Another idea is to wear front-opening shirts & sweaters. However, the downside of these is that it can be very difficult to operate the closures with one hand, especially if the shirt has buttons. You may need to ask for help.
5. Adaptive clothes. Post-surgery clothing that is specifically designed for people recovering from shoulder surgery are probably the best option after surgery. Adaptive clothes are designed with limited mobility in mind. Shirts that have full arm and side openings, easy open-close snaps and no zipper, velcro or metal trims are ideal to make you look and feel comfortable throughout your recovery. At maiwecare.com, you may find a variety of post-surgery shirts, so that you don’t have to stress about getting dressed after surgery.
The following video can be very helpful. It provides details about how to dress and undress safely following a shoulder surgery, replacement, or injury requiring shoulder immobilization.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptai8849h_I
]]>One in every eight women will develop breast cancer during their lifetime. It is very important that we learn to love and care for our bodies. ✨🤍 This month we want to encourage self-examination through some simple steps provided by breastcancer.org. Remember that early detection, saves lives.
Step 1: Examine your breasts in a mirror with hands on hips
Begin by looking at your breasts in the mirror with your shoulders straight and your arms on your hips.
You should ensure to look for breasts that are their usual size, shape, and color as well as breasts that are evenly shaped without visible distortion or swelling.
If you see any of the following changes, bring them to your doctor’s attention:
Step 2: Raise arms and examine your breasts
Now, raise your arms and look for the same changes.
Step 3: Look for signs of breast fluid
While you’re at the mirror, look for any signs of fluid coming out of one or both nipples (this could be a watery, milky, or yellow fluid or blood).
Step 4: Feel for breast lumps while lying down
Check for breast lumps or abnormalities by feeling your breasts while lying down, using your right hand to feel your left breast, and then your left hand to feel your right breast. Use a firm, smooth touch with the first few finger pads of your hand, keeping the fingers flat and together. Press down with your fingers and move them in a circular motion that’s about the size of a quarter (or an inch around).
Cover the entire breast from top to bottom, side to side — from your collarbone to the top of your abdomen, and from your armpit to your cleavage.
Follow a pattern to be sure that you cover the whole breast. You can begin at the nipple, moving in larger and larger circles until you reach the outer edge of the breast. You can also move your fingers up and down vertically, in rows, as if you were mowing a lawn. This up-and-down approach seems to work best for most women. Be sure to feel all the tissue from the front to the back of your breasts: for the skin and tissue just beneath, use light pressure; use medium pressure for tissue in the middle of your breasts; use firm pressure for the deep tissue in the back. When you've reached the deep tissue, you should be able to feel down to your ribcage.
Step 5: Feel your breasts for lumps while standing or sitting
Finally, feel your breasts while you are standing or sitting. Many women find that the easiest way to feel their breasts is when their skin is wet and slippery, so they like to do this step in the shower. Cover your entire breast, using the same hand movements described in step 4.
A form of loving and caring is self-examination and prevention. Let’s bring awareness!✨🤍
For more information and resources about breast cancer, check out the links below!
www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer.html
]]>So, if you are thinking of giving a care package to someone going through chemotherapy, read on.
]]>But we also know that a prayer, words of encouragement or a small gift can make them feel better!
So, if you are thinking of giving a care package to someone going through chemotherapy, read on.
A person undergoing chemotherapy faces many challenges, both physically and mentally. Chemotherapy can be a long and challenging process. Receiving gifts that bring comfort, ease side effects, and provide distractions from treatment, may help make the process a little easier.
Here is a list of some of the best gifts to include in a chemotherapy care package:
Personal care:
Clothing:
Food:
Entertainment:
Don´t forget…. feeling loved and supported is the most important thing during this period. Adding personalized items or handwritten notes or messages can also encourage and support people through this challenging time.
]]>I had to go through an 8-month shoulder recovery period, where I had limited or no mobility of my shoulders. I was lucky enough to have a friend give me a present: a MAI We Care t-shirt. This shirt was amazing! Back then, I had no idea that clothing specially designed for patients going through situations as mine existed. Neither did I know that this shirt could make a difference in the life of a patient, so he doesn’t have to deal with the usual clothing that makes it impossible to move and dress.
I want to share with anyone who reads this, that MAI We Care made a true difference in my recovery and therapy. It helped me to get dressed independently and without pain. I did not have to raise my arms, and it allowed me to get dressed easily. It became my daily outfit throughout my recovery. I do not know what I would have done without it.
I now recommend MAI We Care t-shirts wherever I go. They are very versatile for all types of patients in all circumstances, and the quality is very good.
I congratulate those who had the idea of creating this type of clothing. They truly facilitate medical procedures and help patients have a better recovery.
Diego Torrebiarte
]]>Thank you MAI for being part of our journey these 3 weeks and avoiding the frustration of a small child thinking…“I don't have anything to wear”, “My shirt doesn't fit because of the cast” nor “I can't take my shirt off easily”.
Monica Ortega
]]>Brands are now taking part of the inclusive fashion world, which considers gender, sizing, complexion and ability. We invited founder of the Black Fashion Movement Frenchye Harris to talk to us about how everyone can find their perfect outfit.
]]>Through healing and the journey of recovery, we learn about ourselves and our bodies. We understand its needs, we acknowledge its strength and power. We learn every day, that we are in fact, stronger than we think. However, it is important to take some time and practice self-care.
Here are some easy wellness routines to apply throughout the day.
In the morning, practice wellness by being active, rewarding your body and enjoying life´s gifts.
At night, practice wellness by being thankful for the day and enjoying relaxation.
Staying true to yourself is a matter of personal integrity and self-respect. It involves standing up for your own values and not caving into the demands or expectations of others. Being true to yourself can lead to independence, confidence, happiness, and an ability to navigate through life more effectively, leading to a sense of fulfillment that you’ve given your best self to the world. It can be tough to navigate life with personal integrity and a sense of self—especially when you’re young—but being true to yourself can make you more fulfilled as a person.
Learn to embrace your flaws. They are a part of you, and that won’t change. Balance these by acknowledging and making the most of your good features and putting your best self forward as much as possible. Being true to yourself doesn’t mean forcing yourself to be perfect. Rather, it involves knowing your interests and behaviors as a person, and fully embracing yourself.
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