How rising to the challenge of upcycling a denim jacket for a young wheelchair user at a fundraising event led Rachel Thompson to start her own accessible fashion brand, Adapted Trends.

Former nurse and clothing upcycler, Rachel Thompson, from Surrey, is an advocate of “individuality and uniqueness”.

“What we wear and how we wear our clothes is a reflection of our personality and gives the outside world a glimpse into who we are. I have always encouraged my children to dress how they want, in what makes them happy and to not follow the herd. Imagine if that choice was not an option due to limitations in clothing designs and a lack of availability of adapted clothes,” she says.

Rachel didn’t need to imagine. In 2023, she was invited to take part in a fashion challenge to raise funds for a local home-from-home care provider, Cherry Trees UK. She was tasked with upcycling a denim jacket for Jane, a young wheelchair user who is non-verbal and uses a pod book to communicate.

“With the help of her parents and the pod book, Jane expressed to me exactly which fabrics and colours she liked. Her parents, along with many others I met, explained how there was very little fashionable adapted clothing available to their children in the UK. They needed clothes that were practical, age appropriate and fashionable but often jogging bottoms are their only option,” recalls Rachel.

“This was my lightbulb moment. How can young people and children express their personality if there is no choice available?”

Rachel was shocked and saddened by the lack of fashion choices.

“Limited mobility shouldn’t mean you can’t wear up-to-date fashions. In the UK there are very few clothing brands that specialise in designing clothes for adolescents with special educational needs and wheelchair users, and that needs to be rectified.”

True to her word, Rachel, with the help of her daughter, who was working at a school for children with additional needs, spent the months following the fundraising event working together with young people, their parents and teaching staff to design fashionable and functional garments.

It was decided the starting point would be a pair of fashionable unisex trousers and then, when funds allow, a capsule wardrobe.

“I have a very small budget, as I’m using my savings and a personal loan. Ideally, I’d like to have these trousers made in different colours and patterned fabrics but I have to start small,” says Rachel.

Adapted Trends Clothing UK launched in September 2024 with the first trousers in what Rachel is confident will become a growing collection. The zip-front cargo-style trousers have already attracted praise for helping to “make dressing my son so much easier” while the zip front section means “I can use my toilet bottle without help from anyone else”.

Rachel is over the moon with the feedback to date.

“Our aim is to create clothes that are both on trend and fit for purpose. In time I hope to expand the clothing line and create future designs and adaptations with the help of young fashionistas, their parents and carers. I greatly appreciate any constructive feedback on the trouser and bib design and welcome any ideas or wishes for future projects.”

Rachel is not alone in launching an adaptive clothing brand, which is good news for people of all ages looking for fashionable accessible garments.

This year, adaptive clothing is creeping into shops on the UK high street, with Marks & Spencer and Primark both launching collections.

A survey by Primark found that 59% of respondents would buy more adaptive apparel if it was available from high street retailers. It’s also important for brands to involve the people the products are meant for in the design process, to ensure garments meet their needs effectively.

Adapted Trends Clothing UK is currently available to purchase online at www.adaptedtrendsclothing.co.uk, an accessible option for shoppers. Following the launch, Rachel wants to build a community of collaborators on social media, asking for ideas on items of clothing and suggestions about colours and fabrics.

“This is the start of the journey but Adapted Trends can only develop and be successful with the help of our customers. Ideally, I would love to have an expert panel of young people with additional needs, wheelchair users and parents/carers who can tell me what they’d like to wear then we can work together to come up with ideas and designs.

Website: www.adaptedtrendsclothing.co.uk

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