Adaptive clothing for wheelchair users

“It was then that I first became aware that there was a whole group of women who didn’t have access to the kind of clothing I made.” Through her connection to Turnbull, Camilleri learned about issues that people who use a chair have with clothing — putting items on and off, finding clothes that look good from a seated position but do not interfere with wheelchair mechanics, and fitting into fashionable choices that are suitable for the workplace”.

Designing clothing for Turnbull set a whole design revolution in motion for Camilleri. If one wheelchair user was grateful for custom-fitted clothing, what about the rest of the seated community?

“Barbara held a focus group of women in wheelchairs, and I learned about issues that I had not even suspected!” Camilleri relates. “There were so many distinct needs that at first I did not think I could create a dress line that solved all of the issues that each person had expressed.” While continuing to design for Turnbull, Camilleri also began making custom clothing for another woman in a wheelchair. As a result of that experience, she says, “I began to see that there are ‘common threads’ in the design needs of all of these people who use wheelchairs.” So Camilleri put her talents to work creating an entire line, complete with skirts, tops, coats, jeans, pants, and robes — along with thoughtful, practical accessories, for men and women.

The Izzy Camilleri Adaptive Clothing website features several videos that demonstrate the ease-of-use features Camilleri has built into her fashions. The videos can help wheelchair users visualize how Camilleri’s clothing could fit their specific needs. The clothes can also be bought online.

More info: http://izcollection.com/

Adapted from: http://www.disability-marketing.com/profiles/izzy-camilleri.php4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvuMcjZnBZs