What is Kiyasku, a Clothing Alteration Service for People with Physical Disabilities?

Kiyasuku is an online service that champions the idea of "Everyday wear for everyone." It allows people to easily request alterations to ready-made clothing, making them easier to wear for those with physical disabilities.

In this article, we will take a closer look at Kiyasuku, a service advancing the concept of barrier-free clothing.

If you are someone struggling with clothes you can't wear, this could be a helpful reference for you.

1. Limited Clothing Options for People with Disabilities

For people with disabilities, the reality is that there are limited options for fashion and clothing combinations. For example, if someone has paralysis or joint contractures, they often rely on stretchy clothes that are easy to put on and take off, which can lead to similar styles.

Moreover, even if we categorize it as a disability, each individual's range of motion and physical deformities differ.

While existing adaptive clothing is easy to wear, it often lacks design appeal, making it difficult for individuals to wear clothes they like.

To make every piece of clothing your own, Kiyasuku, a ready-made clothing alteration service, was launched to solve these issues.

2. What is Kiyasuku, Japan's First Online Service for Altering Clothes to Suit Physical Disabilities?

Kiyasuku processes cherished clothes that can no longer be worn due to illness, disability, or injury, making them wearable again.

Alterations can be made to address specific difficulties, such as converting a garment to a front-opening style or replacing buttons with Velcro.

Feedback from users with physical disabilities includes comments like "I can now enjoy fashion" and "I can dress and undress without family assistance."

Reference: Kiyasuku

2-1. The Background of Kiyasuku's Development

The development of Kiyasuku is driven by the passionate vision of its representative, Teppei Maeda.

In 2018, Maeda met a hearing-impaired colleague at his previous job, which sparked his interest in clothing for people with disabilities. Over about three years, he gathered opinions from around 800 individuals with disabilities and learned that many were troubled by the lack of clothing options.

Reference: Japan's First Online Service for Altering Clothes for People with Disabilities, "Kiyasuku," Launches March 1.｜PR TIMES Inc.

Driven by the desire for "people in various situations, such as disabilities or illnesses, to freely choose and wear clothes they like every day," Maeda left his previous job to establish Kiyasuku.

2-2. The Passion Behind Kiyasuku

Kiyasuku offers over 70 types of alteration options to tailor a wide variety of clothes to suit each individual.

Specific requests can be directly discussed through the chat room on the order site.

Many of the alteration staff are family members of individuals with disabilities, ensuring they thoroughly support customers while preserving the design of ready-made clothes.

Kiyasuku, imbued with Maeda's strong desire to ensure that people with disabilities and their families never have to give up on clothing, received the Good Design Award and Good Focus Award in 2022, earning high praise beyond the welfare industry.

2-3.Details of Kiyasuku's Services

Image source: Kiyasuku

Kiyasuku can alter a wide range of garments including T-shirts, polo shirts, sweatshirts, dresses, and denim pants. Detailed service information is available from the alteration menu.

If you have a request for alterations not listed in the menu, it's a good idea to inquire first.

参照：お直しメニュー | 株式会社キヤスク（旧：株式会社コワードローブ）

The alteration process is as follows:

1. Register as a member and prepare the clothes you want to alter
2. Select the type of alteration you want
3. Choose one Kiyasu (alteration staff) and make a request
4. Discuss details with the chosen Kiyasu in the communication room on the site
5. Send the clothes to be altered to the Kiyasu
6. After payment, the Kiyasu will perform the alterations
7. Once alterations are complete, confirm the finished product in the communication room, then it will be shipped to the requester

That's the process.

2-4.Why Kiyasuku is Widely Accepted

Image source: Kiyasuku

Over 60% of those who use Kiyasuku repeat within six months.

The reasons Kiyasuku is widely accepted include its accessibility to a wide range of users, from children to the elderly, and its ability to handle and process various materials.

The joy of being able to wear clothes you almost gave up on is indescribable in just a few words.

Additionally, with the return of altered clothes, Kiyasuku always includes a handwritten message card from the staff.

While it is a customer-staff relationship, the presence of someone who can share the same concerns is one reason customers feel comfortable using the service.

2-5. The Journey of Kiyasuku

Since its launch in March 2022, Kiyasuku has altered 350 garments in one year.

From everyday wear to stylish outfits for outings, swimsuits, and raincoats, Kiyasuku has provided services to ensure no clothing is given up.

There was even a mother who dreamed of her children wearing the same clothes. Kiyasuku's ability to not only alter clothes but also continually inspire customers is likely because it provides services from the perspective of those with disabilities.

In January 2023, a new project called "Kiyasuku of Youth" was launched.

This project addresses the issue of students being unable to wear designated school uniforms, preventing them from experiencing student life in the same attire as their peers. It collaborates with companies and governments to tackle these challenges.

As Kiyasuku aims to create a society where wearing the clothes you want every day is a reality, it is worth keeping an eye on their future endeavors.

3. What Kind of Society Does Kiyasuku Envision?

Kiyasuku is a service that alters ready-made clothing. This highlights the limited clothing options available in mainstream fashion brands.

Maeda's ideal future is a society where Kiyasuku is no longer needed.

By not just creating clothes for people with disabilities but also considering them in fashion design, stylish and easy-to-wear clothes for people with disabilities will increase, just like men's and women's fashion.

To achieve this, Kiyasuku aims to contribute its experiences to society, encouraging all brands to consider people with disabilities, and working to solve clothing issues for individuals with disabilities and their families.

For more about Maeda, please see the interview article below.

4. In Conclusion

While progress is gradual, the world is becoming more barrier-free, allowing people with and without disabilities to