Mentor woman remembers grandson with design line

MENTOR, Ohio - Karen Bowersox's journey to help families living with Down syndrome started with the memory of her grandson that passed away at only 8 months old.

He was a twin, but as a premature baby, the complications from an early birth combined with Downs syndrome took his life much too young.

His sister is now 9 years old. When she was 2 years old, Bowersox's daughter and son-in-law wanted another child. They adopted a little girl named Maggie, who has Down syndrome. It was the families way of keeping baby Brendan's memory alive.

Bowersox saw the struggles her daughter had with Maggie, clothing was a main issue for the little girl. One day, her daughter asked for help.

Bowersox's brain went into over-drive and after a lot of research, she discovered there is a need for specialty clothing for Down syndrome people of all ages.

Their bodies need that "exact fit."

Maggie was forced to roll up her pants, and cuff her shirts, but that still wasn't enough. So, Bowersox found designers and a factory in China, who were willing to give the special needs designs a try.

After months of work and research, this year, Bowersox opened "Downs Designs."

One of her models, Kelleen, loves her new clothes. She has pants that don't drag on the ground and she calls herself a "fashion diva."

If you'd like more information about Downs Designs click here .