The Seams: Creating Adaptive Clothes for the Disabled
Ian C. Langtree - Writer/Editor for Disabled World (DW)
Published: 2015/07/21 - Updated: 2025/08/25
Publication Type: Product Release, Update
Category Topic: Assistive Home Products - Academic Publications
Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates
Synopsis: This article explores the growing movement in fashion design aimed at better serving people with disabilities, focusing on how emerging designers from institutions like Parsons School of Design and the Fashion Institute of Technology are crafting apparel that prioritizes both practicality and aesthetics, such as adaptive seams and structures that accommodate mobility aids without sacrificing style. It underscores the disparity between progress in areas like housing and transportation under the Americans with Disabilities Act and the slower evolution of inclusive clothing, drawing on interviews with veterans, advocates, and industry voices to illustrate real-world frustrations and innovative responses. Grounded in a reputable NPR podcast series produced by a seasoned journalist, the piece carries weight through its firsthand accounts and cultural analysis, making it a valuable resource for individuals with disabilities, seniors, and caregivers seeking ways to improve everyday dressing routines, boost personal confidence, and navigate fashion with greater ease and relevance - Disabled World (DW).
Introduction
The Seams, an independent podcast and occasional story series for NPR, explores the business of fashion for the disabled in its newest story aired Saturday, July 25, on NPR's Weekend Edition with Scott Simon.
Main Content
Signed into law on July 26, 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act has vastly improved the lives of the 60 million Americans who live with a permanent disability by mandating better access in housing, transportation and workplaces. But clothing for the disabled has not kept pace.
For its latest story, The Seams talked to aspiring designers from Parsons School of Design and the Fashion Institute of Technology, both in New York City, about how they are working to design and produce fashions tailored specifically to the needs of the disabled.
The Seams also interviewed potential customers for these designers, like Air Force veteran Anna Smith. Smith, who uses a wheelchair and a cane, expressed frustration about the lack of practical, stylish clothing, observing, "We get ponchos that make us look like umbrellas, not styles that are unique and interesting."
Another advocate, 33-year-old Liz Jackson, calls herself and her blog The Girl With the Purple Cane. She lobbies mainstream retailers like J.Crew to better cater to disabled customers.
"From the beginning, The Seams has wanted to look at clothing inclusively," says Lyden. "Our motto is 'Clothing is our common thread. In every stitch, a story.' Disability fashion and the desire to look good are interwoven. What we found with the veterans is they want to look polished and current, to wear flattering clothes that work for them and their lives."
The Seams series on NPR was started in 2014 by former NPR correspondent and host Jacki Lyden, who looks at fashion as culture, politics, business, entertainment and history. The Seams is also a biweekly podcast, and a more in-depth look at disability and fashion will run on podcast, available on iTunes.
Insights, Analysis, and Developments
Editorial Note: It's worth noting that while the fashion industry has long catered to fleeting trends, the push for disability-inclusive designs represents a pivotal shift toward equity, one that not only addresses functional gaps but also challenges broader societal views on ability and appearance—ultimately benefiting a market of over 60 million Americans by fostering garments that align with lived realities rather than assumptions - Disabled World (DW).
Author Credentials: Ian is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Disabled World, a leading resource for news and information on disability issues. With a global perspective shaped by years of travel and lived experience, Ian is a committed proponent of the Social Model of Disability-a transformative framework developed by disabled activists in the 1970s that emphasizes dismantling societal barriers rather than focusing solely on individual impairments. His work reflects a deep commitment to disability rights, accessibility, and social inclusion. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and accomplishments, visit his full biography.