13 Inclusive Fashion Brands Fulfilling the "Desire to Wear" for People with Disabilities

For people with disabilities, the act of "choosing clothes to wear" is not just a pleasure. Fashion is usually an important means of self-expression, but due to reasons such as difficulty in moving the body, there are many who have to give up on wearing the clothes they want. In this article, we introduce apparel brands that offer "inclusive wear" that is easy to wear even for those with disabilities.

1.The "Three Barriers" of Fashion for People with Disabilities

1-1.Functional Barriers

The "functional barrier" in fashion for people with disabilities refers to the physical difficulty of "dressing and undressing," such as weak hand strength making it hard to button clothes, or limited limb movement making it difficult to put on sleeves. For those who are bedridden or use a wheelchair, spending a lot of time sitting or lying down, the seams of clothes can also potentially cause "bedsores."

1-2. Design Barriers

The "design barrier" refers to the appearance of clothes. Clothes that have been sold as "care" or "for people with disabilities" have often prioritized functionality over style, lacking the fashion appeal that makes people want to wear them. People with disabilities often had to choose based on "can I wear it?" rather than "do I want to wear it?"

1-3. Psychological Barriers

Due to the time it takes to change clothes and the desire to avoid inconveniencing caregivers, many people end up thinking "let's choose clothes that are easy for caregivers to put on," losing their enthusiasm for fashion.

To break down these three barriers, inclusive fashion, which can be enjoyed by anyone regardless of disability, age, or body shape, was born.

2.[Latest] 13 Recommended Inclusive Fashion Brands

2-1.SOLIT!

SOLIT! is an all-inclusive apparel brand that advocates "leaving no one behind, whether people or the planet." Known for its clothing that balances functionality and design, it has received high praise, including winning global design awards.

2-2. Belle Maison × Kiyask

Belle Maison × Kiyask is an inclusive series collaborated by major mail-order company Belle Maison and alteration service Kiyask. It features popular ready-made clothes with snap buttons and zippers, making them easy to wear and put on even with illnesses or disabilities, and they are available at affordable prices.

Reference:Belle Maison×Kiyask

2-3.UNITED CREATIONS 041

UNITED CREATIONS 041 is a project within the renowned apparel brand "United Arrows," based on the idea that by deeply addressing "individual needs," clothing that brings joy to many can be created. They continue to challenge the limits of fashion with items like leather riders jackets that can be worn lying down and seamless pants to prevent bedsores.

Reference:UNITED CREATIONS 041

2-4. Play fashion for ALL

Play fashion for ALL is a project by Adastria, a company that handles many popular brands like GLOBAL WORK and LOWRYS FARM. It proposes "items that anyone can wear easily" from its popular brand items. This activity, which is not labeled as "for people with disabilities," aims to enjoy trendy clothes as a matter of course, a unique approach from a major company with numerous apparel brands.

Reference:Play fashion for ALL

2-5.OHK

OHK is a brand born from the idea of a physical therapist, combining the functionality of being wearable with one hand and the comfort of Indian cotton. Based on expert knowledge, it pursues designs that allow even those with paralysis to dress beautifully, and its simple designs that suit all ages are well-received by many.

Reference:OHK

2-6. A World Without Fronts and Backs

A World Without Fronts and Backs is a brand from the "All Right Laboratory" project by the popular brand "FELISSIMO," themed "enjoy life as it is, enjoy life as you are." With a groundbreaking concept that "every way of wearing is correct," it has received high praise from visually impaired individuals and those who want to eliminate the stress of worrying about the direction of clothes.

2-11. [Children's Clothing] Altotascal

Altotascal is an inclusive children's clothing brand that promotes "fashionable barrier-free" clothing, offering items that allow children requiring medical care to enjoy fashion. Collaboration items with popular characters are also available, gaining support from many parents as children with disabilities or medical needs can enjoy fashion together.

Reference:Altotascal

2-12. [Special Days] Hagoromo Style

There are brands that support special days for people with disabilities. For example, Hagoromo Style is a rental shop specializing in kimono and hakama that can be worn in just 10 minutes while seated in a wheelchair. Even those who had given up on special attire for important days can enjoy authentic kimonos while seated or lying down.

Reference:Hagoromo Style

2-13. [Special Days] W2-Dress

Even on the joyous day of a wedding, there's no need to give up on a wedding dress. W2-Dress is a brand that offers wheelchair-friendly wedding dresses that can be easily worn while seated. They also offer remakes of ready-made dresses, so bringing in a dress that suits your taste is recommended.

Reference:W2-Dress

For wheelchair users, we introduce more wedding dress brands in the following article. If you're interested, please check it out.

Reference:2 Wheelchair-Accessible Wedding Dress Brands! Tips on Related Items and Venue Selection

3. Don't Give Up on the Clothes You Want! "Alteration" as a New Option

Choosing from inclusive brands is great, but there's also the option to customize (alter) your favorite clothes to fit your body, whether it's something you already own or a beautiful piece you spotted in town.

For example, the online clothing alteration service "Kiyasuku" allows for individual customizations such as adding zippers to sleeves or replacing buttons with magnets. The service is entirely online, eliminating the hassle of carrying heavy clothes outside.

Reference: Kiyasuku

4. Conclusion

Three wooden blocks, each with a character for 'summary'

Fashion is not just about covering the body; it's an important tool for expressing one's identity. Wearing the clothes you love helps you reclaim your individuality and connect with society.

Recently, many brands have started to break down the barriers between fashion and disability. Let's make the most of these opportunities and enjoy a stylish life.