A young entrepreneur has designs on the fashion industry – but not for the obvious market.

Katie Ellis, 28, from East Malling, has sourced a range of fashion items that don't require the wearer to struggle with fussy fastenings.

She said: “My grandmother was suffering from Parkinsons. She was keen to continue living independently, but was finding it increasingly difficult to dress herself with all the tricky buttons and fasteners."

"I went looking for easier clothes for her – and found there wasn’t really very much available.”

So Miss Ellis has founded a new company, Able Label, which specialises in easy-to-wear clothes.

She said “I spent the last year meticulously researching and developing an adaptive clothing range. All the items in the catalogue offer comfort and style, but all are designed such that they make dressing easier for people who have difficulties perhaps due to arthritis, a stroke or general affects of ageing.”

The web-based business went live last Wednesday. Having previously worked as a fashion buyer for high street retailer White Stuff, Miss Ellis knows the industry well.

She added: “We have no fiddly fastenings or overhead dressing.

“Our Velcro fastenings are colour co-ordinated to help people with cognitive difficulties.”

She is being helped in the family-run business by her parents, who have lent space at their home as the storeroom.

The items cater for sizes ranging from eight to 22, with prices from £25 to £59.95.

See the range at www.theablelabel.com or call 01622 828994.