Fashion, as we know, has been evolving since it first caught people’s attention. Whether that means there’s a new trend, a new fashion icon, or a style from a previous era making a comeback, the fashion scene is always exciting and keeping us on our toes. However, there’s always been a large demographic missing out on the excitement of fashion: people with disabilities.
Most people might not even think twice about the little things they have to do to get dressed in the morning. It includes pulling up a zipper on jeans, buttoning a shirt, and tying shoes. These all might seem like simple tasks to you, but what if your spine doesn’t allow you to stand up straight? Or your fingers can’t function properly? Or you only have one leg? Some people have to face these difficulties every day because when it comes to clothes, there aren’t many resources to make it easier for them.
In a recent Glamour article, multiple people opened up about what it’s like being disabled and trying to find the clothes they need. Rebecca Cokley, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress and a little person, estimates she pays double the price for clothes due to the alterations she has to get done on them. Model Jillian Mercado had to do many of the alterations herself, as she had to wear a leg brace due to her spastic muscular dystrophy. “I’d cut slits into the bottoms of my pants, then attach Velcro so they’d close over the braces,” she said.
Photo courtesy of Mama Cax Instagram
It is possible to find clothes that are made for people with certain needs, however it’s not always the most fashionable. Many people with disabilities still want to look stylish and trendy, but it’s hard to find pieces that are adaptive as well as appealing. Fortunately, a handful of designers and brands recently noticed this issue and put their innovative minds to work to do something about it.
Photo courtesy of Bustle
Zappos, Target, and Tommy Hilfiger are of few of these popular companies that made a change. They each created a line of clothing that features pull-on pants, slip-on shoes, post-surgical wear, magnetic buttons, adjustable hems, one-handed zippers, and much more. Another feature that Target and Zappos have are sensory friendly tags. Many children, adults too, are extremely sensitive to touch. The tags are replaced with flat seams that don’t itch or distract the wearer. Tommy Adaptive, Tommy Hilfiger’s inclusive line, also includes items made specifically for wheelchairs. The pieces are made to easily fit over the chair and get dressed while sitting.
Photo courtesy of Tommy Hilfiger
Target’s adaptive clothing started with the Cat & Jack collection in 2017. Cat & Jack is a line specifically tailored to children. In just the first year, it became a $2-billion brand. This goes to show how high the demand is for these items and how much a brand could be worth if it offered pieces for all ages.
Photo courtesy of Corporate Target
A lot of these companies are still learning and growing, but it’s great to see more options and capabilities. “Because getting dressed should be the easiest part of your day,” the Tommy Adaptive website states. As major business names are starting to make a difference in people’s everyday lives, I hope even more catch on to keep the task of getting dressed as stress-free as it should be for everyone.
You can find the company’s adaptive clothing lines at the links below:
https://usa.tommy.com/en/tommy-adaptive