Target's Cat & Jack Line Adds Sensory-Friendly Uniforms

Target’s Cat & Jack line now offers sensory-friendly uniforms, just in time for back-to-school.

This new line offers pants, button-down and polo shirts and dress jumpers. Color options range from tan and navy pants to red and white shirts.

Cat & Jack began offering sensory-friendly options in August of 2017. These items were designed in part by Stacy Monsen, who has a daughter on the autism spectrum. In a previous interview with The Mighty, Monsen shared how her daughter inspired the collection:

I have a 7-year-old daughter, Elinor, who has autism. For pants or shorts, I either size way up, or buy pieces that are all function, no style. I’ve met lots of other parents who face similar challenges, including many of our guests and team members. After talking with some of my internal design colleagues I thought, why not create pieces that address some of these problems?

The collection uses heat-transferred labels instead of nagging tags and flat seams. Graphic tees are one-dimensional and leggings are made to fit over diapers. Pants feature alternative entry points, such as zippers along the sides and snaps at the bottom of pant legs.

“It’s our goal at Target to always make sure we have products that fit our guests’ needs, and all at a reasonable price point,” Julie Guggemos, senior vice president of product design and development, said in a previous statement. “We heard from our guests — and members of our own team — that there’s a need for adaptive clothing for kids that is both fashionable and affordable, so we set out to create exactly that.

Target isn’t the only mainstream retailer to offer adaptive uniforms. U.K. brand Marks & Spencer also offers uniforms for children with disabilities. Marks & Spencer’s shirts are fastened with soft velcro and pants are pull-on trousers, eliminating the need for buttons and zippers.

Target’s uniform sizes range from XS to XL and 2T to 5T with prices from $6 to $14.99. Items can be purchased online or in-store, just be sure to check your store’s availability beforehand.