Improving the Function and Usability of Clothing for People with Disabilities

Clothing is both functional and a means of self-expression, according to Open Style Lab, a nonprofit that works with designers, engineers, and occupational therapists to create clothing that addresses the needs of people with disabilities. In September 2022, as part of Genentech’s SMA My Way initiative, Open Style Lab and the SMA community joined forces for New York’s Fashion Week to feature the Double-Take fashion show in the hopes of increasing the visibility of people with disabilities and championing adaptive fashion. We spoke to Yasmin Keats, executive director of Open Style Lab, about her organization’s efforts to promote the design of adaptive fashion, the impact it can have on work and other opportunities for people living with disabilities, and how it is helping to change the fashion industry.