Arts Thread

Intotum was borne out of a desire to create stylish, functional adaptive clothing, that can work WITH your disability. Disheartened by the lack of options for the disabled community after witnessing my grandfather struggle to find comfortable yet fashionable clothing following necessary stoma and urostomy surgery, I sought out to fix this. Reflecting high street fashions, with concealed built-in functionalities and promoting empowerment through ease of dressing, Intotum enables independence and individuality for a marginalised community. This inaugural collection explores clothing specifically for wheelchair users, alleviating the everyday issues faced and focusing on the specific needs of this demographic. The garments are realised through an explorative process, exchanging knowledge between designer and customer. Utilising user-centred design, I endeavoured to involve all from the disabled community who interact with clothing everyday, from wheelchair users to carers and physiotherapists. An analytical approach is taken to 3D realisation, using modern sports and performance wear techniques and extensive testing to ensure comfort and durability. Through user feedback, based on lived experience of wheelchair users and their support networks, I strive to create a space for the disabled community within the fashion industry, as a means to project their voices and grow adaptive fashion.