[HED]: Fashion’s Latest Statement [DEK]: “Healthwear” is the future of fashion for the disabled. [WRITER]: Leah DeGraw [INTERN]: Leah DeGraw
Fashion, which is typically about trends, is now going beyond the fabric and delving into the realm of healthcare. The latest innovation? “Healthwear.” This sub sector’s name was created by the founder of Care and Wear, Chaitenya Razdan. Despite the fact that the world of fashion can be seen as ostentatious, this new style of “Healthwear” would create a solution to the problem of seeking stylish pieces that also provide ease for the disabled. One out of every five adults in the United States has a disability, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Caitenya Razdan teamed up with a friend who had worked at Kensie to create a sleeve for cancer patient’s upper arms. These sleeves were created to cover peripherally inserted central cathete (PICC), that can stay in the arm up to several months. The material used is breathable, and helps secure the PICC. What once resembled a tube sock now is a bright colored sleeve that looks like something an athlete would wear. This continued with shirts, including a polo, baseball and zippered blouses. With more additions to the line, the ill and disabled can be empowered to express who they are through fashion, just like everyone else. Fashion has the power to help change political, personal, and economic issues. Recently, Angela Luna, who was named designer of the year at Parsons, created her senior line of outerwear that addressed refugee crisis issues such as shelter, flotation, and visibility. For example, one of her coats doubled as a tent. Another example of change is the recent shift in priorities of the health of the environment. An increasing number of clothing companies have been popping up on our radar that support the ecosystem. In 2014, Canopy, created by Ashoka Fellow Nicole Rycroft, made it its mission to save the endangered forests. The company helps brands like H&M, Zara, and Stella McCartney create sustainable supply chains. A person’s style is a form of self-expression—it makes us who we are. Dressing the way we want to dress has the power to determine how we feel that specific day. Now, with the new journey into “healthcare,” the disabled and ill will be able to express themselves through fashion.