While I unfortunately don't have any photos to share because the jeans in question were lost to poor planning and construction some time ago, I think I was on the cusp of a good idea, so I will share the basic premise here and await feedback.
1. Take a pair of regular jeans, 3 or 4 sizes too large. People in wheelchairs need looser fitting clothes to prevent constriction and other circulation and skin integrity problems. Longer inseam for the perpetually bent leg and a wider waist to accomodate sitting and the thousands of tiny movements that must be made from a seated position.
2. Remove back pockets. They are unnecessary and can cause skin integrity problems from the sheer bulk of the many layers of fabric at certain points of contact.
3. Sew front pocket flaps closed and cut away the actual pockets to reduce the amount of material at the critical juncture. This will also leave room inside the pants for catheter and ostomy considerations, if necessary. Similarly, remove the metal rivets from the corners of the pocket seams.
4. Remove belt loops and pick the seams all around the waist band. Unfold the material to use as a modesty panel since normal cuts and styles tend to leave us quite exposed and we'd like to keep our dignity about us. This also gives way for the next step.
5. Remove zipper and replace with hook and loop fasteners or simply sew closed. I chose to replace my zipper with the hook and loop because some days it is much harder to manage dressing than it is others. Also, retaining an opening makes toileting from the chair, a nifty trick many catheter uses rely upon, far more sanitary and convenient. Alternatively, I have seen jeans with zippers along each side instead of at the fly for this very same reason. For security, I opted to add a drawstring through a flannel extension added to the unfurled waistband.
This garment worked very well for me in terms of function, but the problem I had was the junction of the denim and the flannel where I'd undone the waist band. It was fine for a while and it was helpful for even getting my pants on while in my chair (another handy trick we use quite often), but it didn't have the kind of durability I had been hoping for. Also closing up the exposed wrong side of the waist area proved quite tricky and my flannel entension panel didn't really run true all the way around the waist.
Again, I am sorry that there are no pictures, but that's my story. Any thoughts, questions, suggestions, etc.?
