Justice

High-End Fashion Designer Makes Line for Kids With Disabilities

February 25th 2016

Fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger debuted the first-ever clothing line for children with disabilities on Tuesday.

The American fashion designer partnered with Runway of Dreams, "a non profit organization that works with fashion industry to create clothing for the disabled community." to bring an adaptive fashion line to consumers, the Hollywood Reporter reports.

The line includes easy to put on features such as magnets instead of zippers, adjustable waistbands, sleeves and pant lengths for those with different limb differences and alternate ways to put on clothes, according to Today.

The collection also includes 22 pieces for boys and girls, and costs the same as Tommy Hilfiger's current children's collection, according to the statement by Runway of Dreams founder Mindy Scheier posted on Motto.

"There are magnets down the backs of the T-shirts, for example, so you can go in hands first," Scheier told Today. "Putting a shirt on over your head if you have low muscle tone or missing digits can be a very difficult task."

Scheier knows firsthand just how difficult it can be to find clothes that accommodate children with disabilities. Her son has a rare case of muscle dystrophy, which made shopping difficult, Fashionista reports. Recognizing the lack of adaptive clothing available on the market, Scheier started the nonprofit Runway of Dreams.

Scheier also used her fashion background and began modifying clothes from major retailers to work for children with disabilities. After attending focus groups and studying the market, she shopped around the idea and grabbed the attention of Tommy Hilfiger.

In her statement posted on Motto, Scheier explained the significance of the move.

"Because people of all socioeconomic backgrounds live with disabilities and are deeply impacted by this issue, there’s a need for retailers across price points to tap into the Runway of Dreams community and develop modified versions of existing lines. Tommy Hilfiger is the first of what I believe will be many brands to do this. It’s time for the industry to come together to make change happen—to see this consumer market as an exciting chance to engage new shoppers, but more importantly, to make an impact."

Tommy Hilfiger joins the list of retailers making a move toward inclusivity.

As ATTN: reported, in January, toy manufacturer Lego unveiled its first-ever wheelchair figurine after social media campaign #ToyLikeMe began a Change.org petition that called for disability representation in their toys.

"There are 150 million children with disabilities worldwide," the petition said. "Yet these kids are arriving into a world where, even before they’ve left their mums' laps, they’re excluded or misrepresented by the very industry that exists to create their entertainment, the objects that fuel their development, the starting blocks of life: Toys!ing a petition for the company to include minifigures with disabilities."

In the same month, ATTN: also reported that Mattel's Barbie rolled out three new sizes of dolls: curvy, petite and tall. The most diverse lineup since Barbie debuted in 1959.

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