Hong Kong plays part in disabled-clothing design revolution
Adaptive clothing for the disabled is taking off in a big way and one local design centre is doing its bit to make dressing, sport and daily life a little easier for the physically challenged
When 36-year-old Mindy Lim attended a week-long basketball technical camp, it wasn’t the gruelling schedule that bothered her. It was the rashes she developed on her thighs. The friction from the fabric of her pants caused an allergic reaction which she did not notice until much later due to the lack of sensation in her legs.
Lim is a paraplegic. Most disabled people, like her, face challenges with their apparel. The lack of options poses daily hurdles. Allison Kabel, assistant professor of health sciences at the School of Health Professions at the University of Missouri in the US has been researching the relationship between clothing and marginalisation of people with disabilities. She found that the lack of adequate, accessible apparel creates barriers for people with disabilities from engaging in their communities.
“While it may be an afterthought for some, clothing and appearance are not trivial. What we wear matters in how we participate in our communities. Clothing can work as a form of ‘gate keeping’ which prevents an individual from being seriously considered for a job interview or social encounter. The lack of appropriate apparel can lead to social or economic exclusion for some people with disabilities,” says Kabel.
The functional, cultural and sensory sensitivity aspects of apparel poses a range of issues for the disabled, or “differently abled”. Traditional closures such as buttons, zippers and hook-and-eyes are difficult to manoeuvre for people with low or hyper muscle tone. Also, people with differing limbs or the seated body require different trouser and sleeve lengths and adjustable waistbands for comfort. Putting on and taking off clothing such as a T-shirt that has to go over one’s head also poses a challenge. The cut and overall design can be uncomfortable, seams can cause pressure sores and allergic reactions for people like Lim who use wheelchairs, or spend a lot of time sitting down.
Then there’s the cultural aspect. Kabel and colleague Kerri McBee-Black, instructor of textile and apparel management at the University of Missouri, analysed interviews from a focus group. They cite the instance of a female caregiver who struggled to help a male stroke victim put on or take off his shoes or socks due to cultural taboos around touching his feet.
