Physically challenged people do not have to be slouches in the
sartorial department anymore. What we wear is an integral part of who we are.
There are thousands of brands available to us, we can pick and choose and try
them on to our heart’s content. When it comes to fashion design and functional
fit, the needs of people with disabilities are frequently ignored.
A lot of the time, it’s not the disability that affects the clothing
wearer. Crutches, wheelchairs and
walkers that interact with clothing can cause damage and become a safety
hazard.
We brainstormed on
possibilities of how a person on a wheelchair can put on clothes off the rack
and experience fashion with comfort through customized
clothing.
RECURRENT CHALLENGES IN
REGARD TO INCLUSIVE FASHION
Fabric
As much
as the emphasis on design and aesthetic stays in high demand the fabric itself
plays a major role in comfort and mobility. Linen and cotton fabrics with loose
weaves make for an excellent choice, since polyester blends and other synthetic
materials end up causing rashes and skin irritability. Other high static
materials like corduroy cause hindrance in moving and performing tasks that
involve transferring from one place to another.
Fit
The fit and the fabric need to complement each other, when the
topic of customized apparel is broached.
The fit should not be too tight, to keep pressure sores at bay. Wherein, loose
fits aren’t too great either; although one may think of loose fits as a more
convenient choice, but it beats the purpose of customized clothing. A perfect casual/comfort fit is the ideal choice one might want to have.
Closures
This is a real challenge which may vary according to the needs
of different people. Nevertheless, Magnetic closures, zippers and Velcro straps
in the right place are always handy and a great substitute.
Aesthetic appeal
The key to effective inclusive design is clothing that cannot be
distinguished as inclusive. In the past, a lot of the clothing often looked
like it was obviously made for someone with a disability.
Everyone likes to be up to date with rapid moving fashion trends
and inclusive fashion should be no exception. A hint of personal innovation with
step- by-step discovery is what sets customized clothing class- apart.
Inclusive design is becoming a popular approach in the fashion
world and it is going to be increasingly important for designers to design
in a way that includes more people.
As designers, we don’t intentionally
exclude people with disabilities or people who have additional clothing needs;
we’re just not trained to think about it. We need to understand the needs of
the end user and come up with different solutions each time. This is one of the
perks of getting your clothes custom made.
Namrata C
Fashion stylist
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