Fashion industry perceptions of clothing design for persons with a physical disability: the need for building partnerships for future innovation

ABSTRACT Introduction: Persons with a physical disability may need adapted clothing to facilitate their full participation in society; it is unclear what information designers use to create adapted clothing. Objective: Explore the perspectives of fashion industry representatives regarding adapted clothing and gauge their receptiveness towards academic inquiry. Methods: Semi-structured interviews with five female adapted clothing designers were conducted, transcribed verbatim, coded, and analyzed thematically. Results: Participants felt research (i.e. knowledge and guidance) could benefit the design process and spoke about industry barriers (e.g. time, manufacturing, human and material resources, marketing, level of importance) to designing adapted clothing. Conclusions: Strengthening collaborations with stakeholders (e.g. researchers, designers, consumers, health professionals, caregivers) may add credibility to future adapted clothing designs and bridge the gap between research and practice. Engagement from fashion design trainees could also contribute to growing a more socially responsible industry.