Empower Creative Adaptive Clothing - è Ispirante

The idea for è Ispirante began about 5 years ago when I was hired to make a corset for a woman who had polio as a child and must wear a corset every day. When I saw the corset she wanted me to copy, my first reaction was how unattractive it was. I thought that if this is something that she has to wear every day, why not make it look nice as well as functional. After perfecting the fit, I then added lace, that was securely stitched down to avoid catching on anything, and trimmed the edges and covered the boning tape with a floral print. The Client was very happy with it and we proceeded to make a second one in various batik fabrics. 
 
I then looked at available Adaptive Clothing and was surprised to see that the choices were minimal and not very fashionable. I  wanted to give people more exciting and fashionable options. Since I began my Adaptive Clothing Line, designers and manufacturers have taken more of an interest in designing fun, fashionable, and functional clothing! 

At the same time that I was working on the corset, I began making skirts for my friend's daughter who had Cerebral Palsy. Both her and her daughter loved the skirts as they were easy to take on an off using my design features, and were made with fun fabrics as well as sparkly fabrics! I then decided to start creating fun and attractive Adaptive Clothing for girls.  è Ispirante was born! #eIspiranteinclusion Plans are to expand the clothing line to include additional clothing items as well as Adaptive Clothing for Women, Men, and Boys. I have since  added two different styles of skirts for  Adults. Each style comes in two different colorways. 

I have been speaking with many people with disabilites to find what features in clothing will make them more comfortable and in charge of getting themselves dressed easily and to feel comfortable and fashionable. 
 
My friend's daughter is Sara Ann,  was an amazing painter! I have chosen some of her paintings and had them printed on T-shirts to sell along with the skirts. Sara Anns mother will receive a percentage of the profits from the sale of the T-shirts. Going forward, the T-shirts will be Adaptive designs and feature many other paintings done by Sara Ann, as well as accepting artwork from other people with disabilities.

What you wear has a large impact on how you feel. Until recently, there was not much interest for designers and manufacturers to create and produce fashionable clothing choices for people with disabilities, and the available options did not allow them to  express who they really are and to be able to take more control in dressing themselves.  This is thankfully finally turning around. Feeling confident and dressing to express who you are is very empowering and something that should be available to everyone. 

Along with designers and manufacturers taking an interest in designing and producing fashionable clothing, there is a new body awareness.  Bodies of all shapes and sizes are becoming noticed and thought of as beautiful - breaking the "norm" of what a body should look like to be considered beautiful. It's not just the models that are seen in magazines anymore, but everyone. This idea has also spread to Fashion Show runways and Fashion photography and more and more people are being included in in these venues that were once only for models that exemplified the "norm" of what is considered beautiful. There is still a long way to go, but it has started and will continue. #eIspiranteinclusion

I will be using the funds from this Campaign to pay for production of my second Line of Adaptive Clothing, as well as all fabrics and notions. I am hoping to go into production on the new Line in November to have it ready for upcoming Abilities Expos.