Erewash: Autistic boy says pop-it T-shirt is helping others

Max, from Derbyshire, said: "In my opinion, everybody deserves to be comfy"

An 11-year-old boy with autism has said a T-shirt he designed with neurodivergent people in mind has helped others.

Max, from Derbyshire, designed a T-shirt made of soft material with seams encased on the inside, no labels, and a pop-it fidget toy in the hem.

He said labels irritated him, and knew others could also find polyester material and seams uncomfortable.

"It's crazy how many people have said 'this helps so much'," he said.

Max, from Erewash, added: "In my opinion, everybody deserves to be comfy."

The design has been handed a UK patent with a European and Worldwide patent pending.

The pop-it - which Max described as "infinite bubble wrap" - is hidden in the hem of the T-shirt

Max told BBC Radio Derby: "It is a T-shirt that is helping people who cannot stand labels, people who cannot stand seams, who cannot go outside because their clothes are uncomfortable.

"I only have trouble with labels but for most people they need a lot more stuff to be comfortable, and that is completely fine."

He added: "The T-shirt isn't just to help my needs. It's supposed to help a bunch of other people's needs."

Fidget toys can be used as a calming technique, with Max saying the best way to describe a pop-it is "infinite bubble wrap".

Pop-its activate one or more of our senses like sight, hearing or touch

Talking about when he came up with the idea, he said: "I was playing with a pop-it and wearing a T-shirt. I thought 'why does this pop-it not go in this T-shirt so I can always have it with me?'"

His father Matt said: "It brings you to tears seeing some of the responses we have had.

"We've had people say 'my son or daughter is wearing new clothing for the first time in two years, we are able to go out of the house again because they couldn't tolerate wearing anything'."

Matt said the responses to the T-shirt had been "mind-blowing"

Peter Watt, from the National Autistic Society, said: "We often hear from autistic children, young people, adults and their families about how sensory sensitivities can mean they struggle with certain clothes.

"For some, a label on a T-shirt, or a particular fabric could be incredibly itchy, distracting or even physically painful.

"It's really important for all brands to think about how they can make their clothing collections autism friendly and accessible for anyone who experiences sensory sensitivities."