Fashion and disability are two rivers running side by side: Designers at National Ability Summit

The need for ‘adaptive fashion’ for disabled people was addressed on Thursday at the virtually-held National Ability Summit (NAS), an event that is dedicated to create awareness about disabilities of all kinds.

The session ‘Dignity, comfort, style, treatment – Adaptive Fashion’ witnessed participation by Stephanie Thomas, Founder and CEO of Cur8able, Shannon Willard, Director Sales at Silvert’s Adaptive Clothing and Footwear, Nikki Hind, Fashion Designer at Gentle Disruptor and Mathew Skerritt, Founder of EveryHuman.

“We have to deal with our perception and idea of disability, not from a medical model or clinical model, but from a social model,” Thomas said while talking about the solutions for styling clothes for disabled people.

Also read: Accessibility for the disabled requires a mega campaign, say experts at National Ability Summit

“Until we understand disability and not be afraid of the idea of disability, we can’t move forward,” the disability fashion stylist added.

When asked about what keeps her motivated, Thomas said that she just wants disabled people to dress up easily. “Being a small business, I get to be a bit more agile, I get to pivot quicker and stay on top of what is happening and move with the industry, and that keeps me motivated,” she said.

Hind, who is Australia’s first legal blind fashion designer, articulated that disabled people need to be at the decision making tables.

Also read: We need to keep advancing the technology in conjunction with disabled: Christopher Patnoe of Google US

“Fashion and disability are two rivers running side by side. It’s not like people with disability have only just started wearing clothing,” she added. We are wearing clothes for the reasons the same as anybody else,” she said.

“Aim towards designing fashion with the disability community, not for the disability community,” Hind added.

Willard, who has a fair amount of experience in adaptive fashion and sales, said that disabled people need comfort in their clothing, which they find in her company’s products.

While talking about the belief system that needs to be created with the disabled community, Skerritt, who is building a business in the field of adaptive fashion, said that it is essential to make a brand out of your business so that people can put effort to believe in you. He also mentioned the importance of functional clothing and style. 

Discussing the role of disabled people in the fashion industry, Varija Bajaj, founder of Varija Lifestyles and Varija Life, said, “You cannot do for them without them.” She was also the moderator for this session.

The first-ever edition of NAS that is taking place virtually in India is spearheaded by Varija Life, a Not for Profit Organisation under fashion and lifestyle brand Varija Bajaj.

The two events that started on December 2 saw acclaimed names from media, films, fashion, and lifestyle, speaking on the need to create awareness on disability and creating an environment for them where they feel welcomed.