Even in 2023, there are still inclusivity barriers within the fashion industry...
Adaptive fashion is clothing that is designed for people with physical or sensory disabilities who may struggle when getting dressed or have a feeling of discomfort when wearing ‘standard’ clothing. Adaptive clothing could be as simple as magnetic and Velcro fastening as an alternative for buttons or laces, or even temperature control fabric. It differs for every individual's needs.
The adaptive clothing market is currently set to grow by 280 billion pounds by 2026, which shows the enormous business potential it has, too.
There is a lack of adaptive fashion across the world, however, with very few high-street shops that provide clothing for everybody. But from the design of the clothing and the diversity of models, inclusion can no longer be an afterthought.
Now more than ever, adaptive fashion is recognised as something that needs to be more represented within the industry. There are some brands that now have adaptive clothing ranges including Tommy Hilfiger and Nike.
As there is a need for more awareness of adaptive fashion, social media comes into play. In 2012 an investigation by the New York Times looked at the algorithms from Facebook and Instagram, exposing the fact that both platforms regularly block adaptive fashion adverts, which highlights a lack of understanding and under-representation.
There is also concern that Facebook’s current advertising policy may restrict personal attributes - including disabilities and medical conditions - from being in any ads; those particularly restricted could be small businesses that aren't able to share their own content. According to Facebook, the reason for the restrictions is to “help protect people from poor ad experiences and to help support more meaningful connections between people and business” - but this shows a lack of understanding towards the adaptive clothing community.
With huge growth on the horizon, adaptive clothing means more than just money. It should allow everybody to feel comfortable and happy in what they wear without feeling excluded - and promoting it across the world should be a priority.
Adaptista is the UK’s first disability-led shopping site. They aim to change the narrative of what adaptive and accessible clothing should be like. The Adaptista platform offers adapted fashion, beauty and lifestyle brands that are all designed for people with disabilities. The company was founded by disability advocate Mari O’Sullivan-Abeyratne, who wanted to address the lack of adaptive clothing especially within the UK. To help with the platform, Adaptista has partnered with Recite Me, which is an accessibility tool that allows text-to-speech and page translation to allow anyone to use its website. Adaptista offers clothing for children and adults and also offers unisex clothing.
With huge growth on the horizon, adaptive clothing means more than just money. It should allow everybody to feel comfortable and happy in what they wear without feeling excluded - and promoting it across the world should be a priority.
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