Funmi Lawal
Founder and CEO at Clip-knix
Visual Arts, Fashion and Design
My career can be divided into pre and post-stroke. I worked in the civil service for 10 years. I relocated to Dubai and worked as an customer executive for Orga Cards. I returned to the UK to have a baby and 7 days later I had a stroke. I design inclusive adaptive underwear for women. It negates the need to bend or stretch. It can be worn sitting, standing or lying down. I spoke at Naidex about the future of adaptive fashion. I addressed MPs in the House of Commons on the eve of world kidney day about blood pressure and kidney damage.
My products are changing lives globally. From Australia, America, Singapore and Europe. It is empowering women by protecting their privacy and giving them independence. I went on to experience a further serious health issue when I was diagnosed with end stage kidney failure in 2007. Once again, grace of God was shining upon me as I managed to have a successful transplant in 2011.
In 2019/20, the charity Scope reported that there are 14.1 million people in the UK living with a disability, 1 in 4 and 1.3 billion people worldwide, making the availability and range of suitable fashion that supports those with limited mobility vital. Supporting this movement towards more adaptive designs in fashion, supporting people’s independence, I wish I was warned of the many challenges that came with running an adaptive fashion company. A big problem is funding, the banks are not willing to be patient with a new adaptive start-up. As it is a new product and a new brand, awareness is just growing as such the company has expanded.
Then came Covid as we were locking down, so much uncertainty after Covid the next challenge to any business is the cost of living crisis. My passion to help others kept me going.
Clip-knix is currently on 10 Amazon marketplaces, eBay, Etsy, Faire and Ankostore. I was included in 2023 f:entrepreneur 2023, small bizz 100 2022, finalist Business & Product innovation Award 2023
“I always refer to myself as 5 times minority and I still succeeded. A black, female, disabled, Muslim and middle age.”
Disability Power 100 2023 profile information has been self-submitted by the profile subject. Shaw Trust understands and respects that disability and impairment descriptors and language use varies from person to person. Shaw Trust assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or discrepancies in the content of this, or any other, profile page.
Image credits: Ayaoba Gele
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