If you have a child with sensory sensitivities, you understand the challenges of clothing shopping all too well. “Nope, it has a tag.” “What if I remove the tag?” “No, it has a seam.” “That’s how clothes are constructed.” More often than not, parents leave stores with an oversized pair of slippers and a child dressed in clothes that are too small. Thankfully, Target is stepping up to make this experience easier with its new sensory-friendly clothing line in the children’s department.
Exclusively available at Target.com, this innovative line adds 17 new pieces to the beloved Cat & Jack collection. Currently, the selection features four shirts and four pairs of leggings for toddler girls, four shirts and one pair of leggings for girls, and four shirts for boys. And there’s more on the horizon; in a recent announcement titled “Design For All,” Target shared plans to further expand the Cat & Jack line this fall to include adaptive clothing specifically designed for children with disabilities.
Target’s sensory-friendly clothing tackles the most common issues faced by kids who are sensitive to certain textures—like tags, seams, and rough graphics. The new pieces feature heat-transferred labels instead of tags, flat seams, and one-dimensional graphic tees, all thoughtfully created to reduce discomfort against the skin.
The inspiration for this initiative came from Mia Thompson, a Target designer with a daughter on the autism spectrum. Mia gathered a volunteer team of designers to brainstorm ways to create more inclusive clothing options. They engaged with parents of children with special needs and consulted organizations dedicated to serving this community to develop a comprehensive proposal for the Cat & Jack line.
Julie Martin, Target’s Senior Vice President of Product Design & Development, expressed enthusiasm about the project, stating, “When the team presented their ideas, it was inspiring to see how they identified a gap in the market and conducted thorough research to understand our guests’ needs.” While the initial focus is on sensory-friendly garments, Target plans to broaden its offerings to cater to various disabilities. Martin added, “We’ll introduce adaptive clothing that addresses the needs of children with disabilities—like styles with zip-off sleeves and side openings for easier dressing, as well as pieces designed for those who are lying down or seated.”
A sincere thank you to Target for acknowledging that children with special needs deserve comfortable clothing. This new line will undoubtedly make back-to-school shopping a more pleasant experience for countless parents.
(Psst… seamless socks would be a fantastic addition next!)
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Summary
Target has launched a new sensory-friendly clothing line within their Cat & Jack collection, addressing the needs of children with sensory sensitivities. The line features innovative designs that eliminate discomfort caused by tags, seams, and graphics. This initiative, inspired by a designer’s personal experience, aims to make shopping easier for families with special needs.