Adaptive fashion is a concept that has been gaining traction in recent years, but there is still a long way to go in terms of raising awareness and making it accessible to all. According to a recent survey, over 25 per cent of the sample that was engaged with said that they didn’t even know that adaptive fashion existed. This lack of awareness has spurred a call to action within the industry to open source information, insight, and frameworks in the hopes of making adaptive fashion and accessibility a more prominent part of the wider agenda across curriculums, conversations, and business strategies.
While adaptive fashion has been embraced by the high street, with brands like Primark and Asda’s George in the UK offering adaptive clothing options, there is still a need to get luxury brands involved. This is where industry leader, Burke, comes in. She believes that the disabled community deserves a fair shot at luxury fashion and is working tirelessly to make that a reality.
One of Burke’s recent initiatives involved working with Tommy Hilfiger on bringing adaptive fashion to the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund. This initiative paired 10 designers with muses from the disabled community to create adaptive-friendly looks. The goal was to create a co-design framework that ensures disabled people are equal stakeholders in the design process and that there is a learning exchange happening between all partners.
For example, designer Ashlynn Park of Ashlyn was paired with influencer and disability advocate Bri Scalesse for the challenge. Park thought about what a wheelchair user may need from clothes in terms of functionality and form, and created a bodice for Scalesse that prioritizes ease and comfort.
This initiative is just one step towards making adaptive fashion more inclusive and accessible to all. By involving the disabled community in the design process and ensuring that their needs and preferences are taken into account, the industry can move closer towards a more inclusive and diverse fashion landscape.
