A Seamless Transition
Clothing line by Diana Takach ’03 eases sensory challenges for children
Imagine not being able to wear a T-shirt because you’re bothered by the stitching or the tag. Not just annoyed, but in pain: It feels like needles on your skin.
This is the reality for 6-year-old Dean, the son of Diana (DeMain) Takach ’03. Dean, while very determined, struggles with sensory processing delays. It interferes with daily tasks such as getting dressed and, in 2018, prompted Takach to found clothing brand Me Do.
“The name comes from each of my children, Olivia, Dean and Norah, insisting ‘Me do it!’ with regard to everything,” she explains. “Every parent wants their child to be independent, brilliant and able to do things for themselves.”
Me Do. offers four wardrobe staples — short- and long-sleeved T-shirts, shorts and sweatpants — in six “sensory neutral” shades. The choices are white, gray, tan and navy, along with specialty colors, pink and aqua.
“Our products are made with the lightest seams and softest cotton, no tags or plastic thread, and a visual cue to indicate direction and provide redirection from the sensory experience,” explains Takach. The latter are texture-free drawings of a bunny’s face and tail, which appear, respectively, inside the front and back of each item. “This allows clothing to be tagless, while teaching kids how to get dressed properly.”
She built Me Do. from the ground up in New York City, drawing on her marketing and e-commerce background and passion to create a “Made in the USA” brand. Partners in the fashion world helped with product development and branding.
A recent addition to the product line: Calming Sensory Play Dough, created during the COVID-19 pandemic to support independent play. The company may develop clothing for people with dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and other conditions that can cause confusion around dressing.
“You find an opportunity and seize it if you can,” says Takach. “Bentley gave me a foundation for business, the ability to navigate technology and lit a fire within me to want to continue to grow.
“I’m thankful for friends, family and the simple things that got me to this place. That support is what will take this brand to the next level.”