Creating clothes for changing bodies

Written by Ellen Cordell | Download Original Article

Finding stylish but fuctional clothing for elderly men and women can be an extremely dif¬ficult chore. Which is why Karen Keith developed the Silver Label clothing line three years ago.

Many people in the area know Keith as a news anchor on KJRH-2. Others know her from her work on a Brookside rede¬velopment group or from her bed and breakfast, The Lantern Inn, that she operates as a hobby.

Most people, however, are un¬aware of the clothing line she has created with the help of fam¬ily and friends.

Keith was inspired several years ago to create the line when she saw the need her grandmoth¬er and grandfather had for func¬tional clothing.

"Karen decided to start be¬cause grandmother had Parkin¬son's disease and arthritis. She lives in a retirement home, but is independent, and the stuff they had was so tacky," said Kathy Denton, Keith's sister and man¬ager of the Silver Label store, lo¬cated at 8112-A S. Lewis Ave.

Keith said the clothing line has evolved a great deal since its start. Initially the clothing was geared more toward people con¬fined to hospitals, but she found an equally important need for clothing among elderly people living on their own. "If they can dress themselves, they can stay independent longer," she said.

Keith persuaded family mem¬bers other than her sister to get involved in the operation. Her uncle, Harley Featherston, is co-owner of Silver Label and her parents model clothing for the catalogue.

Many friends also participate in the business. One is Bertha Taylor, the production manager, who designs and sews many of the patterns. "Silver Label wouldn't exist without Kathy and Bertha," Keith said.

Taylor and Denton pick out the fabrics, most of which are 50 per¬cent polyester and 50 percent cotton, making them washer and dryer safe. "We try not to have drab fabrics," Denton said. "We've found that most elderly people don't want drab colors."

Denton said the clothes are the result of three years of re¬search on changes that the body goes through as it ages. To de¬sign the clothing, Silver Label enlisted the help of several nurs¬es and doctors, as well as elderly patients in nursing homes and retirement centers.

"The gown has a pocket for a heart monitor. The sleeve opens for an IV and there is a huge neck for comfort so that it doesn't pull back," Denton said.

The No-Hiney-Shiney dress opens in the back with a 6- to 8-inch overlap for additional cov¬erage, at the same time allowing easy access for catheter and stomach tubes.

One of the key features of all Silver Label clothing is its use of Velcro instead of buttons or zip¬pers for easier access. Much of the clothing has smaller shoul¬ders, wider armholes and pleats or gathers in the back for osteo¬porosis of the spine.

The front of the women's cloth¬ing is designed to fit the chang¬ing shape of the body, and both men's and women's pants have wide legs. The men's pant is built higher in the back for com¬fort with an extended fly in the front. "The pants are created with a Velcro fly and fit roomier and larger in the waist," Keith said.

Sweatpants are also very popu¬lar, especially in rehabilitation centers, Denton said, because of a longer fly, wider leg and no elastic around the ankle.

Many younger people with dis¬eases such as arthritis have also found the clothes to be a great invention because of the easy ac¬cess.

Silver Label also carries a wide variety of other items. They sell wheelchair capes, blankets and arm bags, as well as special shoes for arthritic patients and bibs that attach with Velcro.

When the store receives enough requests for a new item, Denton and Taylor will work on a special design. "We are right across from the cancer institute (Cancer Treatment Center of Tulsa), and many people come in asking for hats. So we designed one that is like a pie with a piece cut out of it," Denton said.

Denton hopes they will soon be able to carry other items in the store, such as enlarged-han¬dled silverware and specially made bowls with a scoop. Keith would also like to expand the line by creating clothes for chil¬dren who have diseases or are physically disabled.

Keith is hoping to spread the word about her clothing line lo¬cally as well as nationally. Rep¬resentatives for the line will be attending nursing home conven¬tions in several states over the next few weeks.

She said the store is also hop¬ing to expand the business in Tulsa by selling its designs in hospital gift shops, uniform shops and stores that sell wheel¬chairs and accessories.

"Someday we would like to be the ultimate store, where you can get everything. But that's way down the line," Keith said. The most important thing to those involved in Silver Label, however, is the customer. "The customers are more like friends. We listen to them a lot," Denton said.