Our Approach
In creating FashionABLE, we asked ourselves two key questions:
Question 1: What do we know about adaptive clothing for individuals with SCI?
To answer this question, we conducted an extensive review of the existing literature and website content related to clothing for individuals with SCI
- We found a high demand for fashionable clothing. However, finding the right clothing was a major challenge. There was strong expressed desire for contemporary designs, with many solutions arising from lived experiences and expertise.
- Clothing was found to have a significant emotional impact – affecting self-confidence and how people show up in public spaces.
Question 2: What do individuals with SCI and healthcare professionals want and need when it comes to adaptive clothing?
We surveyed and interviewed individuals with SCI and healthcare professionals to understand their current practices and identify any perceived gaps in adaptive clothing
- 87% of individuals with SCI surveyed indicated ease of putting on and taking off as “important” or “most important”, followed by comfort of body movement (80%) and aesthetics/style (78%) for their clothing choices.
- All quotes in this booklet were taken from these interviews, with pseudonyms used for confidentiality
May 29, 2022 New Orleans
Adaptive Clothing for People with Spinal Cord Injury: Where Function Meets Fashion and Fashion Show
Throughout our research process, we facilitated multiple roundtable discussions with our team of lived experience consultants, fashion designers, researchers, and clinicians. More information regarding our approach can be found in the Guide.
Acknowledgements
With gratitude, we, in Canada, acknowledge that our operations are situated on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh people.
The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of the Craig H. Nielsen Foundation’s Community Support, Creating Opportunity & Independence Grant, and WorkSafeBC’s Research Training Award.
We also acknowledge the contributions made to this project by the following individuals: UBC Master of Science in Experimental Medicine student Tamila Kalimullina, UBC Master of Occupational Therapy students Mehala Kuwica, Wilson Wong, Nicole Banting, Bianca Magdangal, Bethany Wat, and Julia Kwan; Dr. Chris McBride and Ryan Clarkson (Spinal Cord injury, British Columbia -SCI BC); Dr. Janice Eng (UBC), Dr. Andrea Bundon (UBC); and Julie Osipow (PT, OSL, NY).
We would also like to acknowledge the FashionABLE models: Asha, Jessica, Kristina, Leo, Michelle, Muj, and Paulo.
Photography: KK Law
Hair and Makeup: Radiant Beauties, Krista Gruen and Natures Beauty, Sheena Lee
Photoshoot Assistance: Antigoni Savvaidis and Jessica Ryan
Photoshoot Stylists: Chloë Angus and Teri Thorson
Project Coordination & Editorial Support: Jessica P. Flores (UBC)