Clothing Alteration Service for People with Disabilities: What is Kiyask?

KiYASUKU is an online service that promotes "Everyday wear for everyone." It allows users to easily request alterations to ready-made clothing to make them more accessible for individuals with physical disabilities.

This article provides a detailed introduction to KiYASUKU, which is advancing the concept of barrier-free clothing.

If you are struggling with clothing that you cannot wear, please use this as a reference.

1. Limited Clothing Options for People with Disabilities

For people with disabilities, there are currently limited options for fashion and clothing combinations. For example, those with paralysis or joint contractures often rely on stretchy clothes that are easy to put on and take off, leading to similar styles.

Moreover, even among those with disabilities, each person has different ranges of motion and body shapes.

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

To address these challenges, the ready-made clothing alteration service "KiYASUKU" was launched to make all clothes your clothes.

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

KiYASUKU allows individuals to have cherished clothes, which they can no longer wear due to illness, disability, or injury, altered so they can wear them again.

Alterations can be made to address specific issues, such as converting buttons to Velcro or adding front openings.

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

Reference: KiYASUKU | Co-Wardrobe Inc.

2-1. Background of KiYASUKU's Development

The development of KiYASUKU was 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 approximately 800 individuals with disabilities and learned that many were troubled by the limited clothing options.

Reference: Japan's First Online Service for Altering Clothes for People with Physical Disabilities, "KiYASUKU," Launches on 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 Vision 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 staff performing alterations have family members with disabilities, and they provide alterations while thoroughly considering the customer's needs and preserving the design of the ready-made clothing.

KiYASUKU, infused with Maeda's strong desire to ensure that people with disabilities and their families do not 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. KiYASUKU's Service Offerings

Image Source: KiYASUKU

KiYASUKU can alter a wide range of clothing, including T-shirts, polo shirts, sweatshirts, dresses, and denim pants. Detailed service content can be viewed from the alteration menu.

If you have a request for an alteration not listed in the menu, it is recommended to inquire first.

Reference: Alteration Menu | Co-Wardrobe Inc.

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 KiYASUKU staff member (alteration staff) and make a request
4. Discuss details with the chosen staff member in the site's communication room
5. Send the clothes to the staff member
6. After payment, the staff member will perform the alterations
7. Once alterations are complete, confirm the results in the communication room, then the clothes are shipped to the requester

That's the process.

2-4. Why KiYASUKU is Welcomed by Many

Image Source: KiYASUKU

Over 60% of those who have used KiYASUKU return within six months.

The reasons why KiYASUKU is embraced by many include its accessibility to a wide range of users, from children to the elderly, and its ability to handle and alter various materials.

The joy of being able to wear clothes that were once given up on cannot be fully expressed in words.

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

While the relationship is between customer and staff, the presence of someone who shares the same concerns provides reassurance for customers.

2-5. The Journey of KiYASUKU

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

The service has been provided for all types of clothing, from everyday wear to stylish outfits for going out, swimsuits, and raincoats, ensuring that no clothing is given up on.

Among the customers was a mother who dreamed of her children wearing the same clothes. KiYASUKU not only alters clothes but also continues to inspire customers, thanks to its service from the perspective of individuals with disabilities.

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

This project aims to address the issue of students being unable to wear the designated school uniforms, preventing them from enjoying the same attire as their peers. It collaborates with companies and government agencies to tackle these challenges.

KiYASUKU is committed to creating a society where wearing the clothes you want every day is a reality, and it deserves more attention in the future.

3. The Society Envisioned Through KiYASUKU

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

The ideal future envisioned by Representative Maeda is a society where KiYASUKU is no longer needed.

By focusing not on clothing for people with disabilities but on clothing that considers them, more fashionable and accessible clothing will become available for individuals with disabilities, just like men's and women's fashion.

To achieve this, KiYASUKU is working to share its experiences with society and encourage all brands to consider individuals with disabilities, addressing the clothing challenges faced by them and their families.

For more about Maeda, please refer to the interview article below.