Functional fashion and co-creation for people with disabilities

Abstract

There are annual inclusive fashion parades in Brazil, these encourage designers and student designers to develop collections with features that promote the accessibility, autonomy and high self-esteem of people with disabilities. The authors believe that participants face difficulties in developing these collections. The literature does not present methods that aid in this development. Through the application of questionnaires with 26 participants this research investigates if the fashion designers of these parades have difficulties in the development of inclusive and functional fashion; and asks if they believe that co-creation would be favorable in the development process of these products. It has been found that among the bigger difficulties of the designers are: the data collection with the users regarding accessibility and how to dress, the selection of trims, and the development of the patterns. The use of co-creation in a method that aid the development of functional fashion products was considered favorable for 88% of respondents.