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Glasgow Live
Glasgow Live
National
Keiran Fleming

Seriously ill young Rutherglen man bids to launch legacy clothing brand for disabled

A Glasgow man with muscular dystrophy is launching a new clothing brand for others like him.

Azeem Ahmed, 21, was diagnosed with the condition, which is a group of diseases that cause progressive weakness and loss of muscle mass, at just three-years-old.

The man, from Rutherglen, was told by medical professionals that as someone with muscle dystrophy his life expectancy was shorter than most.

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Azeem wants the leave behind a legacy and has launched a fundraising campaign to help him in setting up a clothing brand for everyone.

He told Glasgow Live: "Before I was able to do stuff for myself like hold a phone or hold an iPad. But as I've gotten older my condition has deteriorated to the point where I can't do any of that anymore.

"It has affected me mostly in my lungs so I have a ventilator overnight to help me breathe and I'm prone to chest infections."

Azeem successfully applied for college last year, however, due to circumstances out with his control he was unable to attend.

Despite the setback, he decided to take his future into his own hands and started Equal Clothing to ensure people with physical disabilities feel represented within the fashion world.

The 21-year-old said: "I couldn't sit here and do nothing, I'm the type of person who likes to prove people wrong. So I thought about what I could do in the house and that is when I came up with a clothing brand. I want to show people that anything is possible when you put your mind to it.

"I'm someone who has a disability and I'm not letting it stop me."

Now the entrepreneur has high goals for the up-and-coming business which he believes has a bright future. However, he also hopes that if the new brand thrives it will inspire others with similar disabilities to pursue their passions

Azeem said: "My dream is for this brand to be in a high end store. I know a few people with a similar condition to me who have given up because they don't feel like they are being represented.

"That's why a brand like Equal Clothing is needed. To show them that if I can to do it they can do it.

"I set out to start a brand with a focus on disability awareness as well as challenging the market for competitive premium streetwear. I started with a simple idea that, although society can remind us that not everyone is equal, their contributions can be.

"And this is how Equal Clothing was born. This is my opportunity to prove that anyone can achieve through the perceived impossibilities of disabilities, as everyone needs help from friends sometimes and when we work together, we can all achieve amazing things.

"I want my brand to show people like me that they can be creative; they can contribute, and they can be successful.

“Equal Clothing isn’t for anybody, it is for any body. I want this brand to be my legacy."

The aspiring fashion mogul has set up a GoFundMe to help kickstart Equal Clothing.

To see the donation page click here

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