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Fashion design for disability: Examining past and present practice to enable designers and brands to improve access to inclusive everyday wear
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School of Arts, Design and Architecture |
Master's thesis
Electronic archive copy is available via Aalto Thesis Database.
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en
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144 + 6
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Abstract
Access to adequate clothing is something that should be available to everyone, including people with disabilities. However, finding fashionable clothing that also meets functional needs is not always possible. Consideration for the needs of people with disabilities has often been neglected in mainstream fashion design both historically and today. Firstly, this research aims to uncover the historical provision of suitable clothing for people with disabilities since ready-to-wear clothing became widely available by undertaking digital research. Secondly, this research aims to understand how design for disability is being approached and addressed within contemporary fashion. This was undertaken by interviewing four experts working within adaptive wear and a mother and daughter about their experience accessing adequate clothing over the last 20 years, alongside digital research into contemporary brands. Thirdly, this research recommends next steps for fashion designers and brands to enable access to more inclusive ready to wear clothing through reference to historical and contemporary experts and brands. These recommendations include identifying some common clothing design features that meet the functional needs of a broad range of people with disabilities. They also highlight how the best design process for adaptive wear follows a functional clothing rather than a fashion design approach.