Disability representation (or lack thereof): the fashion industry strikes again

Despite the push for inclusivity in fashion, an industry that prides itself on innovation and creativity has been slow to approach adaptive clothing. The disabled community have been left behind and forced to shop at medical stores for ‘practical’ options without a stylish alternative. Tommy Hilfiger and Nike have been leading the way for mainstream global fashion brands to provide adaptive clothing collections. At this year’s fashion week, adaptive dress was a common theme.

In March, Nike announced their Nike FlyEase trainer, which was explicitly designed with a hinge mechanism so that the wearer can efficiently put on the shoe, hands-free. Upon the launch, the hype surrounding sneaker culture meant that they instantly sold out, making it impossible to purchase without an inflated resell price.

Nikes’ advert for the shoe was criticised for including a non-disabled model sporting the shoe. Marketing for adaptive clothing has promoted it as being for everyone and everybody. Simple clothing adjustments such as magnetic closures or stretchy materials can aid anyone who is challenged with a medical condition or the elderly, for example. Still, brands must anticipate their supply and demand levels so that disabled bodies are not yet again side-lined.

The segregation created from the lack of clothing options for disabled bodies reinforces the idea of disabilities being viewed as ‘less than’. Fashion can be transformative, and new technologies are continuously helping us mould the future through life-altering designs. Our only hope is that more brands take the opportunity to educate themselves on disabilities and produce collections not just because they have to, but because they want to.