Despite Nike and Tommy Hilfiger X Zendaya making clothes for a disabled audience, the conversation around it is just beginning
Beyond greige orthopaedic footwear and sweatpants – a cardinal sin according to the late Karl Lagerfeld – your options as a trend-seeking disabled shopper have been slim pickings. In a land where “figure hugging” is a powerchair poncho, it seems sartorial rules need not apply.
However, the last year has seen a radical rethink in our understanding of how to design for disability. The rise in adaptive fashion – clothing specifically designed for those with disabilities and chronic conditions – reflects newfound awareness of inclusive design. In fact, searches for adaptive clothing saw an increase of 80% over 2019, according to global fashion search platform Lyst. This encompasses everything from discrete elasticated waistbands, which are pinch-free when seated, to magnetic fastenings for independent dressing. All aspects of the garment are fabricated with the wearer’s everyday challenges in mind. So, for many of the UK’s 13.9 million disabled people, it is welcome progress.
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