Interview with Emily Gerhardstein, Co-Founder and CEO of LS Adaptive

Adaptive Clothing, Independence & Dignity: Rethinking What’s Possible with Emily Gerhardstein 

What happens when caregiving opens your eyes to a problem that most people never think about?

For Emily Gerhardstein, it led to a whole new approach to clothing.

In this episode of Not Ready Yet: Curating Conversations for the Aging Journey, Emily shares the personal caregiving experience that inspired her to create LS Adaptive, an innovative adaptive clothing company focused on making dressing easier without sacrificing style, comfort, dignity, or independence.

We talk about why traditional adaptive clothing often falls short, and how LS Adaptive is rethinking the experience with discreet, durable magnetic fasteners designed to make getting dressed simpler for people living with mobility challenges.

But this conversation goes beyond clothing. We explore what happens when we design products around the person rather than the limitation, and why accessibility and universal design matter at every stage of aging and disability.

In this episode, we discuss:

•  Emily’s personal caregiving journey and how it sparked her innovation 
•  Why traditional Velcro and zipper fasteners can be frustrating and limiting 
•  How LS Adaptive’s magnetic fasteners work and what makes them different 
•  The importance of combining style, function, comfort, and dignity
•  How adaptive clothing can support confidence and independence 
•  The development of pants, upcoming dresses, and adaptive accessories 
•  Why simple, reliable design can make such a meaningful difference 
•  LS Adaptive’s partnerships with Charlotte nonprofits 
•  The importance of universal design and accessibility tools 
•  Emily’s vision for licensing, expansion, and continued community impact 

A few takeaways from our conversation:

Adaptive clothing shouldn't look or feel like a compromise. The best designs blend style, function, dignity, and comfort while helping people maintain independence.

And sometimes, the most meaningful innovations aren't about adding more technology. They're about creating a simple solution to a problem that shouldn't have to be a problem in the first place.

As Emily says, “Clothing should be an afterthought, like slip-on shoes.”

Listen for these moments:

“Our fasteners are half the size and twice the force of industry standards.”

“Our magnets are designed to outlive us all.”

If you care for an aging parent, support someone living with a disability, work in senior services, or simply believe we can do a better job designing the world for all abilities, this conversation is for you.

Resources

https://www.lsadaptive.com/

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