The Disability Overlook
People with disabilities struggle to find clothes, with over 70% of establishments in the US not being ADA compliant (Building Principles).
My mother uses a wheelchair, and I always see her get excited about a clothing store, just to show up and realize there’s no ramp. Not only do disabled people face challenges at the physical store, but they also struggle trying to find clothing that works for them. Adaptive clothing is specifically designed with people who struggle with putting on and wearing clothes, making it important to people with impaired motor skills. The lack of accessible fashion affects millions of people across the US daily, making it a major issue that needs to be addressed.
Over 44 million people have some form of disability, with 39 million of those having some sort of physical impairment(BOIA). Adaptive clothing is built specifically for those 39 million, intending to make day to day life easier for them. Some features that they include are open backs, to allow for the shirt to not have to be pulled on over the head, larger hems, so that people without a lot of mobility don’t struggle to pull the clothing up, and adjustable shoe width so that people with swelling in their feet can move comfortably (silverts). A rare example of a store that has both fashionable and practical clothing for individuals with disabilities is Tommy Hilfiger. The store has clothes that keep up with current trends, allowing the consumer to dress in the latest fashion, while continuing to be easier to wear (Tommy Hilfiger).
Of the many wheelchair users in the US, many of them face the similar challenge of finding well fitting clothes. Because they are sitting for most of the day, their clothes should be made to accommodate the change. However, many brands neglect this, and the people with disabilities are forced to wear whatever that brand produces. Many of these products end up not being suitable, as they do not accommodate the fact that clothes should have more stretch to allow for more comfort, but instead use stiff, uncomfortable fabric that bunches up once you sit down. Even though there are solutions to these problems, such as jeans that are made to sit, instead of standing (Kinetic Balance), brands choose to ignore it. Not only this, but adaptive clothing doesn’t just benefit disabled people, but also the elderly and anyone with unique needs.
Without people speaking up on this issue, no change will occur.
If adaptive clothing begins to show up on the runway, more people for whom this product benefits will see it. Additionally, increased media coverage can also help expand its outreach to other brands and manufacturers, who could also begin to produce similar clothing. The brands that continue to embrace adaptive clothing and expand upon what’s already made are trailmakers in the recognition of disabled people. Brands like Nike, American Eagle, and Zappos are all established brands with influence in their industry (AIOPS Group), as well as brands that have adaptive clothing lines. Brands like these continue to push for change and growth, but now the rest falls upon us.
As someone whose mother uses a wheelchair, I have a lot of personal experience with this topic. I see how my mom struggles to find jeans that fit well, look nice, and are still comfortable for sitting all day. This issue is something that is easy to fix, and is high in demand. Over 10% of the US population has some sort of disability (Building Principles), yet not many popular brands acknowledge that.
