Inspirations News’ Post

More of this, please: Anthropologie has a new line of clothes designed with input from people with disabilities. "Richa Srivastava, chief creative officer of women's concept and design, explains that the adaptive modifications improved the experience of taking each Anthro staple on and off, as well as wearing it all day long. Take the Colette pant for example. Just like the standard design, the adaptive version has a high-rise waist and a cropped flare hem. But to make the pants more comfortable for wheelchair users, Anthropologie took a three-fold approach. 'We adjusted the rise to better suit someone seated, eliminated back pockets to reduce bulkiness when sitting, and incorporated features like magnetic snap closures, zipper openings along pant inseams, as well as tabs and snaps for customizable length adjustments.'" A handful of self-advocates -- including fashion influencer April Lockhart and model Maya Moore gave input into the clothing line, as well as agreeing to model the new clothes. https://lnkd.in/gqWNkTHD #Disability #DisabilityInclusion #AdaptiveFashion

I love this story - and pleased it keeps running. Reaction is key first - the statement. Action (as in business as usual) follows. When #40 and #50 and more + #models appear routinely, in shows, ads, and #campaigns, the shift will have happened. 40+ women out-earn and outspend #women under 40. The 50+ woman is a #superconsumer making purchasing choices for 97% of her household’s purchases. We’re as interested in fashion, and all the other things we were ever interested in, just as much than ever. And with more finesse and often more disposable income. It makes #societal, #cultural, and #commercial sense to give us our #brand faces and spaces back. #womeninbusiness #ageism #proage

Exciting strides are being made at Anthropologie where fashion and accessibility converge in their new adaptive collection. This innovative line reimagines eight of their best-selling pieces, tailored to better suit the lives and needs of individuals in the disabled community. Unlike traditional adaptive wear that often prioritizes function at the expense of style, Anthropologie's collection seamlessly integrates both. While Anthropologie joins other brands in offering adaptive clothing, what sets them apart is their commitment to inclusivity throughout the design process. They actively engaged people with disabilities for invaluable insights on wearability, comfort, and functionality, ensuring the garments meet diverse needs. Feedback on the collection has sparked important discussions. While some voices highlight areas for improvement, such as broader inclusivity, range expansion, and pricing concerns, Anthropologie's initiative underscores a positive shift towards more inclusive fashion. Creating a truly universal adaptive line is a complex challenge, but the journey towards inclusivity begins with such steps. Imagine a future where every brand embraces diversity in design—this is just the beginning. 

We underestimate the power of representation. The lack of positive representation for short-statured individuals in fashion and media has been a glaring gap for far too long. It's a silence that speaks volumes, reinforcing stereotypes and marginalising a significant portion of the population. But there's a shift on the horizon, and DEWEY is leading the charge. Our mission at DEWEY is simple yet transformative: to revolutionise fashion for people under 5ft. We're not just creating clothing; we're crafting a narrative that celebrates and empowers individuals of all heights. Our designs are meticulously tailored to fit the unique proportions of shorter bodies, ensuring comfort, style, and confidence with every wear. It's about more than just clothes; it's about validation, representation, and a sense of belonging. Positive representation matters. It shapes perceptions, influences self-esteem, and fosters inclusivity. With DEWEY we're not only providing stylish and functional clothing; we're also amplifying the voices of those who've been sidelined for too long. To everyone who's ever felt overlooked or misrepresented because of their height, know that DEWEY sees you, values you, and is dedicated to creating a fashion landscape where you are front and centre. We're not just changing wardrobes; we're changing lives. #Heightism #ShortStature #ExtraPetite #InclusiveFashion #HeightInclusivity ID: a screenshotted comment that reads “I’m crying. Finally a brand made for women like me”

IS HYPER-FEMININITY THE NEW FACE OF FEMINISM? Fashion is evolving at hyper speed. Mainly because Internet culture is warping the cycle, acting as a liaison and allowing us to voice our style and creating echoes within shared communities. The boom of hyper-feminine looks and micro trends all over TikTok and Instagram is fuelling this change, which is then picked up by brands and designers themselves. Inspiration truly is everywhere, and everything is coming full circle. From the proliferation of ‘cores’ and super-specific aesthetics, a change has become apparent when it comes to how women (of all ages) are dressing and presenting themselves to the world. Online and IRL. Welcome to the new reality. https://lnkd.in/eQ5dHJ4p

*ONLY 40+ Models Allowed* - the antidote to tokenistic age-representation in fashion? Last week at New York Fashion Week, designer Batsheva Hay did something different. She refused to cast any model UNDER the age of 40.   Hay proved that style & fashion has no age limit, and used her highly coveted platform & media coverage at NYFW to champion and improve vital, necessary age representation.   What was particularly commendable was that lots of the models were ‘street castings’ i.e. non-professional models.  There were some familiar faces, but it wasn’t just celebrities (the common fail-safe option for casting ‘older’ models). And it ensured greater diversity amongst those 40+ models featured – although I would have loved to have seen more size & disability represented.   The show made a clear statement, caught media attention, and broke the repetitive cycle where a brand is tokensitc in casting 1 or 2 older models, the media hails it as the end of ageism, and then next season they're no where to seen again... (let's hope Hay commits to continuing to cast older models in the future). One day I hope age will be normalised that so that ALL ages are represented in equal measures, and such a binary approach isn't needed.   But right now, in an arena where age representation has been so limited, perhaps 40+ ONLY fashion show is necessary: by creating a space that specifically offered opportunity & visibility to those so often marginalised, all spotlight was them. As such, it was an impactful & vital antidote to older women being side-lined for so long at the expense of fashion’s ageist youth obsession.   This sort of 'extreme' move is often necessary for change, and maybe this is exactly what is needed to move the dial along - it’s gotten people talking & reflecting, and it has undoubtedly improved age representation.   But it also shows that there’s still a way to go before something like this is a) not a statement and b) not necessary at all.   How can we achieve this? Hay's casting decision offers some valuable insight. Herself 42, she said: "I find that aging is a big preoccupation for me and my friends." Perhaps this is another indicator that if we encouraged younger people, including designers, to engage with ageing, then they too will start actively participating in the movement and consider being more age-inclusive…. something we're committed to at Ageism Is Never In Style®   So massive credit where it is due: I’m grateful to Hay for doing something that so many others have fallen short of. And here’s to even more age-inclusivity in fashion the future.   #ageismisneverinstyle #ageism #newyorkfashionweek #diversityandinclusion #thoughtleadership #fashionweek #diversityinfashion #proage #proageing #proaging #agepositive #ageinclusivity #ageinclusive #agerepresentation #tokenization #womenover50 #womenover40 #40pluswomen #50pluswomen #60pluswomen #ageing #aging #ageingpopulation #agingpopulation #diversityandinclusion #representationmatters

Beauty and style is timeless.

I love fashion. But what I don’t love is inaccessible fashion. Things like small buttons and zippers can make clothes inaccessible to some people with disability, because they make it hard to put them on or take them off independently. In saying this, there are some awesome fashion designers bringing inclusion to life with their accessible designs. Replacing buttons with velcro or zippers with elastic, these designers make clothes that are accessible to everyone. Some of my fave inclusive designers are Caring Clothing and Jam the Label. It would be so great to see more fashion labels thinking about accessibility in their designs. #AccessibleFashion #DisabledFashion #DisabilityInclusion

Have you ever thought about Accessible Fashion and how we can make clothing more accessible for people with disabilities? Well, if you haven't, then check out our writer and researcher Fiona Bridger point of view here! #AccessibleFashion #DisabledFashion #DisabilityInclusion

It's fascinating to witness how tied bows have become a phenomenon across social media and fashion in 2024. From women's rights to political power symbols and now a viral TikTok trend, these simple knots are more than just fabric tied in a pretty shape; they encapsulate a myriad of meanings and aspects of modern culture. 🎀 #TrendAnalysis #FashionForward #BowTrend2024