The Ukrainian outdoor clothing and equipment brand has launched ‘TURBAT Adapt’, a collection of adaptive clothing designed for people with limb amputations. It includes two models — a jacket and convertible pants created for outdoor activities. DTF Magazine spoke with Marian Striltsiv, the brand’s creative director, about the creation process, unique features, and challenges behind the collection
How did the idea to create outdoor clothing with adaptive features come about?
The team of Gorgany, which includes the TURBAT brand, is taking part in a social project — together with veterans and soldiers with prostheses, they go hiking in the mountains. This experience became one of the motivations to focus specifically on outdoor clothing.
‘Moreover, we have significant expertise in designing specialized clothing that performs well in specific conditions, — Marian adds. — At some point, these two ideas came together quite naturally’.
Work with focus groups
In the spring of 2025, TURBAT teamed up with the military trauma center Superhumans, and just six months later presented the first two clothing models. The team worked with focus groups that included people with different types of prosthetics, created prototypes, and tested them together with soldiers to ensure comfort and functionality.
However, according to Marian, these items still don’t work for everyone: ‘We can’t cover every case with just these two products, but we managed to address most of them’.
About the specifics of adaptive clothing production
The jacket and convertible pants were created based on existing TURBAT models, but they feature several modifications specifically adapted to the needs of people with prosthetics. In particular, the cut includes a wider sleeve — ‘so that a person with a prosthesis can put their arm through without taking the jacket off’.
But the items also feature structural elements that are specific to adaptive clothing.
‘For example, the adaptive zipper on the jacket was developed by a Dutch company, — Marian says. — It features a magnetic fastener that can be easily closed with one hand, a hook, a prosthesis, or even a finger. It may seem like a small detail, but it’s important to consider such things to give a person several solution options’.
About the details
One of the most common elements of adaptive clothing is Velcro. It’s typically used in models designed for the early stages of recovery after an injury. The TURBAT line, however, is intended for later stages — when a person is ready to go hiking.
According to Marian, Velcro isn’t a practical solution for outdoor clothing. It can fail when it gets dirty, isn’t waterproof enough for rain, and may come undone during movement — for example, when a person squats or raises their leg high. Overall, it’s also quite stiff.
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‘We talked a lot about Velcro with the team because it’s the simplest and most obvious solution, — Marian notes. — But it works well only in clothing that experiences less strain or has a simpler construction — for example, in track pants or T-shirts. But not in items that are meant to protect from the rain’.
TURBAT still used Velcro — to adjust the width of the sleeve. However, it was complemented with tabs that can be easily hooked with a finger.
Dara Adapt jacket
The Dara Adapt jacket features underarm ventilation openings, magnetic zippers or zippers with rings for an easier grip, sleeve tabs, and magnetic chest pockets. All additional zippers are equipped with rings to make them easier to open or to attach an extra puller.
The men’s jacket is available in three colors — olive, orange, and black.
Forester Adapt pants
The model is based on the classic Forester pants made of durable polyester, as stated on the website, since pants are usually subject to damage, abrasion, and additional strain when interacting with a prosthesis.
The Forester Adapt also comes in a women’s version available in two colors — black and brown.
The pants can be fully unzipped along the sides, allowing them to be put on without removing a prosthesis or other clothing. They also feature an adjustable waistband and can be transformed into shorts. Two vertical pockets are positioned closer to the front for comfort while sitting.
About the pre-order format
Marian says the brand chose the pre-order format because it is difficult to predict demand.
‘It would have been quite a financial risk to just produce jackets in three colors, — he says. — We needed to forecast how many of these items would be required, in which sizes, and so on. But we didn’t have any statistics or experience to rely on’.
After the test launch, the team realized that the pre-order format did not work as actively as they had hoped. They are now preparing to release a small batch in stores, which is expected to be available in the spring.
In the future, the brand plans to expand its range of adaptive clothing. ‘We already see what can be improved, since we gathered a lot of information during the development process, — Marian says. — These products are complex, but if, for example, we decide to create a warm jacket, it will be much easier and faster than starting everything from scratch. So we can continue developing this line’.
Prices:
Jacket — 8950 UAH
Pants — 5500 UAH
Follow TURBAT on Instagram for updates.
