Ukrainian Human Rights Advocates at the Council of Europe

Anna Pavlus is the founder of WHEELNY — a Ukrainian adaptive clothing brand created for people who use wheelchairs. Born from personal experience, the brand addresses a gap few designers consider: everyday clothing that truly meets the needs of wheelchair users.

After sustaining an injury in 2016, Anna encountered firsthand how inaccessible conventional clothing can be. That experience inspired WHEELNY — a brand rooted in dignity, comfort, and freedom of movement. Each design reflects real-life needs and affirms that adaptive clothing can be both functional and beautiful.

The brand’s name combines the English word “wheel” and the Ukrainian word for free, reflecting its mission to support mobility, independence, and self-expression.

With grant support from the Women’s Opportunity Fund, Anna purchased an industrial buttonhole machine, allowing her to improve product quality and refine design details.

“This support is a vote of confidence in my vision,” Anna says. “It gives me energy to keep growing and to prove that change is possible.”

Through WHEELNY, Anna continues to reshape fashion — creating a more inclusive world, one garment at a time.