About us
Who these shoes are for
Our adaptive shoes are for people with or without disabilities who struggle to get typical shoes on. We customize name-brand shoes with accessibility-enhancing zippers to make it possible for you to wear your favorite brands of shoes.
How Aaron got here
Growing up, my friends and peers always wore the cool sneakers, the kind I dreamed of wearing. But for me, with my disability, it was nearly impossible to get regular shoes on without it being extremely uncomfortable, so I just didn't wear them at all. Something as simple as putting on shoes became something that separated me from that feeling of fitting in—a feeling I've experienced more times than I can count. Every pair of shoes I loved felt like it was just out of reach, and I knew I couldn’t be the only one feeling this way.
Because I wanted to bridge that gap, I started looking for a solution—not just for me but for anyone who’s ever felt like they couldn’t wear the shoes they loved because the design didn’t consider their needs. That’s when I met Oliver and Angel at Shoe Man with Angel's Custom Creations. They didn’t just understand my vision; they believed in it. Shortly after, I turned my idea into something very real; I started Zipped Brands. A shoe store providing people with disabilities the ability to wear their favorite brands of shoes by professionally adding custom, handcrafted zippers. What started as a personal frustration is now a mission to ensure that no one has to feel left out just because of the way they move through the world.
What we do
We professionally modify virtually any brand of shoes with a custom, handcrafted zipper that stretches around the entire shoe, allowing the shoe to open fully for easier accessibility & wearability. Our aim with every pair is to do this modification without sacrificing the look, style, or aesthetic of the shoe (which isn't easy, but it's very important to us).
How we're different
At Zipped Brands, we’re not just about creating accessible shoes, we’re about changing the entire experience of footwear for individuals with disabilities. Unlike other accessible shoe companies that design entirely new models, we take the shoes people already know and love—like Nike, Adidas, and other top brands—and transform them into accessible versions without compromising style or comfort.
Our premium customization process integrates zippers into these existing shoes, making them functional for individuals with disabilities while preserving the original aesthetic. This means you don’t have to choose between accessibility and the brands you love—you can have both.
How it works
After you purchase the shoes from our website, we will order them from the retailer for you, a shoe cobbler professionally modifies them with a custom zipper, and then we ship them to you. Due to this process and custom work, turnaround times are 8-10 weeks from the purchase date.