Just Sense-ational: How Julia DeNey is Changing Fashion

Food, shelter, and clothing. Those are commonly referred to as basic human needs. But what happens when one of those needs isn't compatible with the person?

If someone is allergic to a specific food, they eliminate it from their diet. If an individual uses a wheelchair, they make sure their home has wide enough hallways and an accessible entrance.

Clothing, however, is a little more complicated. Unless someone has the skills to alter or create garments themselves, they often have to settle for what's available, even if it causes discomfort or creates barriers in their daily life.

That challenge became the catalyst for the creation of Sense-ational You, an adaptive clothing brand designed to meet the sensory needs of autistic and ADHD individuals.

Thank you to Julia DeNey, founder of Sense-ational You, for sharing the inspiration behind her company and her hope that it will be a game-changer for neurodivergent individuals, especially children. The views expressed in this post are those of Julia and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Enthuse Foundation.  Editor's note: Julia received a $1,500 grant from the Enthuse Foundation in 2025 thanks to a donation from 1919 Investment Counsel. She used the funding to invest in e-commerce tools that increased her average order value from $75 to $80 while helping bring a highly anticipated new product, the Marble Maze Fidget Hoodie, into production.

While I was a student at Cornell University studying fashion design, I started a volunteer partnership between my sorority and a local autism preschool. Through that experience, I learned about the sensory and clothing-related challenges many autistic children face every day. It completely changed the way I thought about fashion.

What began as curiosity turned into an independent study in adaptive fashion for neurodivergent children. Over the next two years, I worked closely with therapists, teachers, school staff, and local families. Many of the children I met even modeled prototype designs during my senior fashion show, which later became part of Sense-ational You's very first collection.

When I graduated in 2020, I knew there was something special here and officially launched the brand. Around the same time, I also worked as a special education paraprofessional in autism classrooms. Every day, I saw firsthand how clothing could either support a child or become another obstacle.

Before all of this, my understanding of sensory differences was limited. I knew bright lights or loud sounds could be overwhelming, but I had never considered how something as simple as a clothing tag or bulky seam could completely change someone's day.

That realization shapes everything I design.

Many families struggle with clothing challenges that most people never think about. Scratchy tags, bulky seams, restrictive fabrics, uncomfortable waistbands, metal zippers, and pocket linings can all become significant sources of discomfort. For some children, these aren't minor annoyances—they can make getting dressed, focusing in school, or participating in everyday activities incredibly difficult.

Sensory dysregulation isn't a child being dramatic or something they can simply ignore. Sensory experiences can feel dramatically different from one person to another, and they can also change from day to day.

I often think of sensory regulation like a glass of water. On one day, a child may have plenty of room in their "cup" to tolerate bright classroom lights or unexpected noises. On another day, after a difficult morning or wearing uncomfortable clothing, that cup may already be nearly full. One additional sensory input can cause it to overflow. That's why thoughtful accommodations matter.

For example, compression garments can often feel medical or draw unwanted attention. By integrating sensory tools directly into everyday clothing, like an adjustable compression undershirt hidden beneath a favorite outfit, children can receive the support they need while simply wearing clothes they enjoy.

One of the biggest challenges I've faced as a founder is helping people understand that adaptive fashion exists at all.

Because my products represent a new category, building awareness is one of my biggest hurdles. How can people find you when they don't even realize there could be a better way? Many families have never heard of clothing designed specifically for sensory regulation, let alone garments that incorporate sensory tools directly into the design.

As a one-person company, balancing education, product development, and production is a constant challenge. I often wish I could reach more of the families who would benefit from these designs.

As we celebrate Disability Pride Month, I'm reminded of how important it is to amplify disabled voices and share resources, products, and innovations that help the disability community thrive. I hope these conversations continue throughout the year because building a more inclusive world starts with understanding different lived experiences and recognizing that accessibility benefits everyone.

My goal isn't just to create clothing. I want these products to help people better understand neurodiversity and sensory regulation. With the right accommodations and supports, more environments become accessible, allowing neurodivergent individuals to participate more fully alongside their peers. Inclusion benefits everyone.

I also hope adaptive fashion becomes a standard part of the fashion industry rather than a niche category. There are so many innovative small brands working alongside the disability community to create meaningful solutions. I would love to see larger companies collaborate with these businesses to make adaptive designs more widely available and give disabled individuals the same opportunities for self-expression that others already have.

At the end of the day, I want every child to have access to one of life's basic needs: clothing that meets them where they are. Clothing should be comfortable, accessible, and an opportunity for every individual to express themselves. I'm proud that Sense-ational You is helping make that possible.

Julia DeNey is the founder of Sense-ational You. She is a fashion designer and former special-education paraprofessional. Driven by classroom experience, she designs sensory-friendly, adaptive clothing with integrated tools to help neurodivergent children and adults with sensory regulation. Julia graduated from Cornell University in 2020 with a degree in Fashion Design.