Downs Designs Dreams is a non-profit organization that designs and produces jeans and casual pants for individuals with disabilities. They started with designing jeans specifically for the body shape of people with Down syndrome almost 6 years ago. Their jeans are designed to be easy to put on and take off without buttons, zippers, or tags. They also offer a free home try-on service for customers to ensure proper fit. The organization is fundraising to support their program that donates jeans to families in need and to produce new clothing items like women's jeans and khaki pants.

1. DOWNS DESIGNS DREAMS
WHAT WE DO
Kids and adults with disabilities are being
mainstreamed into schools, they have
jobs, they date and have many social
activities. They can be actors and
actresses, homecoming queens and kings,
but what are they wearing?
Big companies like Target and Gap are
actually using kids with Down syndrome
to model their clothes, but a parent
generally can’t find clothes that fit in
those stores.
There are three million children in our
schools with special needs and 20% of our
adult population is disabled. Think about
our men and women in service who have
become wounded or disabled, or those
who suffer from arthritis, Parkinson’s
disease, MS, cerebral palsy, just to name
a few. Have you thought about what
they are able to wear independently?
Downs Designs Dreams is a non-profit
501(c)3 corporation. We have a clothing
line for people with Down syndrome and
other disabilities. We started with jeans
almost 6 years ago and in 2015 started a
non-profit 501(c)3. Downs Designs
Dreams has two brands, Downs Designs®
Jeans and NBZ® Jeans. Downs Designs®
Jeans have 18 styles of jeans for
individuals with the unique body shape of
a person with Down syndrome. NBZ®
Jeans has jeans for men and boys of
standard size in three styles each. All our
jeans are designed to meet the dressing
needs of individuals with disabilities.
They have no button, zipper or tag, they
have a mock fly and belt loops and the
denim is soft and stretchy making them
easy to pull on and take off. They instill
confidence and independence in all who
wear them and are stylish and
comfortable at the same time.
ABOUT OUR UNIQUE SERVICE
Because our customers have special
needs, taking them clothes shopping is
often very difficult. For those with Down
syndrome, clothes generally don’t fit
anyway and parents often buy a bagful of
clothes, take them home, try them on,
find out they didn’t fit, take them back,
then start all over again
This goes on in so many homes and the
frustration is real. Because Downs Designs®
are the only jeans in the world made
specifically for their unique body shape, we
realize the customer is often unsure how to
order. So each new customer is called and
we find out about their needs.
Then we explain our free try-on service
which allows them the opportunity to try
them on in the privacy of their own home,
mark them for hemming or other
alterations, then send them back to us. We
make the marked alterations and return
them back to the customer, with a perfect
fit. We establish a special relationship with
each and every one. We hear their stories
and try to help any way we can.
For our NBZ® customers of standard size,
the try-on service is generally not needed
but it can be offered if they are unsure of
the size or need alterations.
Their appreciation is evident in every email
and letter of thanks. Their need for black
and khaki dress pants is also a major
request and these pants should be available
by mid-2016. We realize jeans are not
enough, we need to do more…and we will!
FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN
June we began our Adopt-A-Jean™ Program.
Through this program we donate jeans to
needy families. The program is also about
educating others on the clothing struggles
faced by people with disabilities that most
are not aware. We encourage youth groups
and adults to get involved to become more
aware why children and adults with
disabilities are dressing differently. At the
same time, they can sponsor jeans for our
program which allows us to donate to those
in need.
HOW TO HELP
Give: Downs Designs Dreams needs help to support our Adopt-A-Jean™ program. We
also have samples prepared and ready for production of black and khaki casual pants
and women’s NBZ® Jeans but need additional funding. We have so many people who
need our help, will you help us help them?
Some of our awesome models for Downs Designs® and NBZ® Jeans
8796 Tyler Blvd.
Mentor, Oh 44060
(440) 290-8903
downsdesignsdreams.org
Number of employees: 6
Year Established: 2015
Top Executive and Board Members
Karen Bowersox
Executive Director
Director – Board of Directors
Susan Peters
Board Chair
Board of Directors
Sean Blake
Board Vice Chair
Board of Directors
Tisha Mochan
Board Secretary
Board of Directors
Harold Bowersox, DO,MBA,JD,HMD
Director - Board of Directors
Michelle Koehler, BS,RN
Director - Board of Directors
Chester Karchefsky, Jr.
Director - Board of Directors
Adam Rosplock, Esq.
Director - Board of Directors
Trenton Tipton-Fletcher
Director – Board of Directors
Funding Sources