Slipping on a shirt, buttoning it up, tucking it into trousers… what most people do in less than five minutes, disabled take four times longer. Those people need help. There is no privacy as someone would have to assist. Now adaptive clothing are coming into lime light, like shirts that snap up with Velcro strips, zippers with a big ring attached to pull them up and down, trousers with elastic waist. It is meant for their freedom and dignity as well.
Adaptive fashion aimed at people with physical disabilities or impaired movement is a part of larger shift towards inclusivity. And even mainstream designers are dipping their toe in it. In India, home to 2.68 crore differently abled persons, there are only a handful of designers who address the issue.
While being transferred from chair to car, to avoid painful movement, trousers with strong cloth loops, like handles are made, on both sides of waist. The person can be lifted using these loops. Another customization is making the crotch area of the trousers bigger so it can accomodate a catheter or a urine cup. Saris are also designed which look like a sari obviously but are actually structured like nighties that can be easily thrown on.
Now, in future tactile clothing will also be a part of market for visually impaired. Various designers, NGOs, industries like Vissionaire, Tamanna, Move Ability Clothing and now NIFT are giving attention to this. Most differently abled folks go to regular tailors for customisation, but they never completely understand their unique requirement. For example, the seat portion in a pair of regular trousers provide resistance to a smooth and easy transfer from a wheelchair to the bed or to a car seat, which is done using a slide type of board. But in adaptive clothing, the butt area of the trousers is made using a slippery fabric to make the transfer easier.
Adaptive fashion is still small in India, but it’s made a start. Being different does not exclude those from access to public spaces, jobs, education and travel so why should it deprive them of a smart wardrobe.
Matter Referenced: Times of India, Ahmedabad, Monday, 14th January, 2019.
By: Dr. Bhawana Asnani.
Happy to see Reviews, Additions, Suggestions and Comments, further.
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