Detroit’s MiAbiliTees Launches During Disability Pride Month with Adaptive Apparel Collection 

A new Detroit-based, disability-owned apparel brand is marking Disability Pride Month and the 36th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act with a message centered on visibility, inclusion and entrepreneurship. MiAbiliTees officially launched July 26 with a debut collection of adaptive statement T-shirts designed to address both accessibility needs and self-expression. The collection is available online and features clothing created for people with disabilities while also encouraging conversations about disability awareness and opportunity. Founded by entrepreneur Willie E. Brake, MiAbiliTees was created to challenge the labels often placed on people living with disabilities. The brand focuses on adaptive apparel that supports independent dressing while offering designs intended to reflect the experiences of the disability community. “I was capable of producing real impact, but I was held back in the corporate world — in pay, in mentorship, in promotion, and in opportunity,” said Willie E. Brake, founder of MiAbiliTees. “I stopped waiting for a seat at someone else’s table and built my own. MiAbiliTees is what ownership looks like — and what being seen feels like.” Brake said the business grew from his commitment to entrepreneurship and increasing the visibility of people with disabilities and disability-owned businesses. Market research conducted during the company’s development found that consumers wanted more than functional adaptive clothing. The findings pointed to a desire for apparel that also reflects identity and affirms that it was designed with people with disabilities in mind. The inaugural collection includes five statement T-shirts, each highlighting a different message related to disability awareness, workplace inclusion and community support. The designs include “I Support Disability-Owned Businesses,” which encourages support for disability-owned entrepreneurs; “We Don’t Want Pity, We Want Paychecks,” focusing on workplace opportunity; “Disabled People Need Love Too,” emphasizing connection and belonging; “Disabled, Not To Be Underestimated,” highlighting strength and confidence; and “Stop Playing With Me,” created for moments when people are ready to push back against being overlooked. Each shirt incorporates adaptive-friendly features intended to make dressing more comfortable and accessible. The garments include flat or minimized seams, tagless necklines and soft fabrics designed to support comfort and independence. The collection is available through the company’s website, with standard sizes priced at $30 and extended sizes at $35. MiAbiliTees also offers free shipping, and Detroit-area customers have the option to pick up orders in person at 6450 Michigan Ave. “When MiAbiliTees show up proudly in public, they change what people expect the world to look like,” Brake added. “This Disability Pride Month, we’re inviting everyone — the disability community, families, caregivers, and allies — to wear that message out loud.” MiAbiliTees operates as a Detroit-based Disability-Owned Minority Business Enterprise through a collaboration involving All About Technology, Center for Creative Arts and Willie Brake LLC. The company’s launch coincides with Disability Pride Month, observed each July to commemorate the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The federal law, enacted in 1990, prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in employment, public accommodations, transportation and other areas of public life. For Brake, the launch represents the introduction of a business built around ownership, accessibility and representation. Through apparel designed with adaptive features and messages that reflect the experiences of the disability community, MiAbiliTees aims to create clothing that people can wear with confidence while supporting a Detroit-based disability-owned business.