Dear friends, family, advocates, foundations and kind-hearted. 

My name is Melissa Garšva, and I’m a fashion designer who walked away from pursuing the glam of red carpets and celebrity clients to answer a deeper calling — to serve those completely neglected: our people living with disabilities, veterans and elderly. 

I have given up my comfort, my stability, and even my personal needs to dedicate myself fully to this mission — to design  ADAPTIVE FASHION  that restores dignity, eases daily struggles, and embraces individuals who face silent battles just to get dressed every morning.

The world has forgotten them. Society has left them behind. And it breaks my heart to witness their pain — the discrimination, the frustration, the lack of inclusion. I could no longer sit back. I chose to stand up.

I see young adults with neurological conditions forced to wear clothing not designed for their bodies, their needs, or their dignity.

I see veterans — brave souls who defended this nation — now fighting just to dress themselves each morning. Many endure physical wounds, prosthetics, burns, and trauma, and yet the clothing available to them doesn’t reflect the strength and respect they deserve.

I see elderly women struggling to lift their arms high enough to put on a blouse.

I see men confined to wheelchairs unable to find pants they can pull on without assistance.

This is the injustice I couldn’t ignore. So I left behind everything to build something that could change lives — a line of adaptive fashion clothing that’s stylish, functional, and empowering.

And I’ve come to a place where I can no longer sustain this alone. I need your support — whether that’s through donations, connections to disability-focused foundations or government programs, or simply sharing my story. I’ve never given up, even while carrying the heartbreak of having my 18-year-old son incarcerated for seven years and losing my job. Through it all, I’ve kept pushing forward — because this mission is bigger than me. But now, I humbly ask for your help to keep going.

I’ve carried this assignment on my back with resilience and faith, I’ve wept in desperation and in joy — praying for this vision to become reality. I believe with all my heart it will come to pass. This isn’t for me — it’s for the lives I’m called to impact. I just ask God to use me as His vessel to fulfill the assignment He placed on my life.

I’ve reached a point where I cannot continue alone. I need support — emotionally, spiritually, and yes, financially — to keep going. To survive. To build. To bring this vision to life on a global scale.

If you believe in human dignity…

If you believe fashion should serve all bodies…

If your heart aches for those who’ve been forgotten…

Then I ask you to stand with me.

Donate. Share. Speak up. Connect me to foundations, charities, grants, or people who care.

Every dollar, every kind gesture, helps me continue this mission. I’m not doing this for fame. I’m doing this for love.

Your contribution will directly support:

To fund the first phase of my mission to bring adaptive fashion to those who need it most —individuals with disabilities, veterans & elder.

Total Goal: $32,000

Breakdown of Funds:

1. Prototype Development – $8,000

• Adaptive fashion materials for individuals who need these clothes most (fabrics, magnetic buttons, velcro, elastics, etc.)
• Patternmaking & sample production
• Fittings with real individuals in the community

2. Marketing & Awareness Campaign – $7,000

• Community outreach events
• Social media ads & storytelling content
• Video/documentary production to showcase the mission
• Photography, branding, and printed materials.

3. Community Engagement & Workshops – $5,000

• Hosting hands-on events for individuals with disabilities
• Inclusive design sessions and support group meetups
• Collaborating with local care homes and veteran organizations.

4. Basic Living & Housing Support – $9,000

• Basic personal support so I can continue the work full-time
• Transportation to fittings, events, and community outreach.

(I’ve fully committed myself to this cause and currently need support to sustain my day-to-day life while building this.)

5. Admin & Grant Prep Support – $3,000

• Legal & business structure
• Grant applications and nonprofit/fiscal sponsor setup
• Outreach to disability organizations and government programs

Thank you for reading, thank you for believing, and thank you for helping me help them.

I believe no human being should suffer quietly because of something as basic as getting dressed. And I believe that if this mission speaks to your heart, you are meant to be a part of it too.

Please consider standing with me.

Donate, share, connect, or simply reply if you want to know how you can get involved.

With gratitude and unwavering purpose,

Melissa Garsva

Adaptive Fashion Designer & Advocate