Adaptive Clothing Design for People with Disabilities

  • Unique Paper ID: 200853
  • Volume: 5
  • Issue: 9
  • PageNo: 298-302
  • Abstract:
  • The fashion industry has traditionally overlooked the needs of individuals with disabilities, resulting in limited accessibility and inclusivity. This study focuses on the design and development of adaptive clothing aimed at improving comfort, usability, and independence for people with disabilities. The research adopts a mixed-method approach, incorporating surveys, interviews, and observational analysis to understand user requirements and challenges in dressing. Based on the findings, adaptive clothing prototypes were developed using features such as easy closures (Velcro, magnetic buttons), stretchable fabrics, and open-back/front designs. The results indicate that adaptive clothing significantly enhances user comfort and reduces dressing time compared to traditional garments. Users reported improved ease of use, reduced physical strain, and greater independence in daily activities. Furthermore, the study highlights the importance of combining functionality with aesthetics to promote confidence and social inclusion. Despite these advancements, challenges such as limited availability and high cost remain barriers to widespread adoption. The study concludes that adaptive clothing plays a crucial role in inclusive fashion and improving quality of life. Future work can focus on integrating smart technologies and developing cost-effective solutions for large-scale production.

Copyright & License

Copyright © 2026 Authors retain the copyright of this article. This article is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

BibTeX

@article{200853,
        author = {Smt. Charushila Suresha Garat and Smt. Anuradha Narayan Yadav},
        title = {Adaptive Clothing Design for People with Disabilities},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2019},
        volume = {5},
        number = {9},
        pages = {298-302},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=200853},
        abstract = {The fashion industry has traditionally overlooked the needs of individuals with disabilities, resulting in limited accessibility and inclusivity. This study focuses on the design and development of adaptive clothing aimed at improving comfort, usability, and independence for people with disabilities. The research adopts a mixed-method approach, incorporating surveys, interviews, and observational analysis to understand user requirements and challenges in dressing. Based on the findings, adaptive clothing prototypes were developed using features such as easy closures (Velcro, magnetic buttons), stretchable fabrics, and open-back/front designs. The results indicate that adaptive clothing significantly enhances user comfort and reduces dressing time compared to traditional garments. Users reported improved ease of use, reduced physical strain, and greater independence in daily activities. Furthermore, the study highlights the importance of combining functionality with aesthetics to promote confidence and social inclusion. Despite these advancements, challenges such as limited availability and high cost remain barriers to widespread adoption. The study concludes that adaptive clothing plays a crucial role in inclusive fashion and improving quality of life. Future work can focus on integrating smart technologies and developing cost-effective solutions for large-scale production.},
        keywords = {Adaptive clothing, Inclusive fashion, Disability-friendly design, Assistive apparel, Ergonomic clothing, User-centered design},
        month = {February},
        }

Cite This Article

Garat, S. C. S., & Yadav, S. A. N. (2019). Adaptive Clothing Design for People with Disabilities. International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology (IJIRT), 5(9), 298–302.

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