Above:Sewingis a hugelyimportantpart
ofMichelleMason'slife,andheradapted
overlockerfromRemapmeansshecan
carryondevelopingherskills.
A GOOD R AD
44 WWW.GATHERED.HOW/SIMPLYSEWINGSEWSOCIAL
Beingrestrictedtotheconfinesoftheirown
homeisa realityforsomedisabledpeople,
andforthem,theInternetprovidesa lifeline.
“I amoftenunabletoleavethehousedue to
fatigueorpain,sosocialmediaisan
importantwayforme,andotherdisabled
people, to connectwithothers,”explains
AnnaColwill
(@crippleknits).
“That’swhywe(Anna
andEveWalker–
@eve_and_the_
woofers)formed
DisabledMakers,
becausethedisabled
communityonlinehas
beensucha huge
supportforus.Toseeone’sexperiences
represented,andtoknowthatyouarenot
alone,issoimportant.”AnnaColwillis
a co-founderoftheplatformDisabledMakers
(@disabledmakers)andtheInstagramfeed
highlightseverythingthebrandstandsfor- inclusivityandcelebrationofamazing,
craftypeople.AndieWellsagreeswithAnna
inregardstothepositiveimpactofthe
onlineworld:“Peopleoftengoonaboutthe
toxicityofsocialmedia,butthatperspective
is often from a place of privilege, since for
"To see one’sexperiences
represented, and to know
that you are not alone,
is so important"
sewingtoolsandmachinesfordisabled
peopletouse.“Theytooktheirtimetohelp
meandit showedmethatkindnessstill
existsinthisworldandmademea very
happysewist,”Michelleremembersfondly.
Remap’sCEODavidMartinexplains:“We
providesolutionstoeverydayproblems
whenthereis nothingcommercially
available,designingandcustom-making
equipmentforindividualsbecause
everyone’sneedsaredifferent.”These
bespokesolutionsofcoursecostmoney to
achieve,however,thebenefactors
themselvesdonothavetopaya penny:
“Ourskilledvolunteersrespondtothousands
ofrequestsforourhelpeveryyearand
weprovideourservice free of charge,”
reportsDavid.A VISIBLECOMMUNITY
AsthischarityworkandMichelle’s
heartwarmingstorydemonstrate,thereare
someamazingthingshappeningfordisabled
craftersbehindthescenes– butwhatabout
inthepubliceye?AndieWellsis justoneof
the people striving to make disabled peoplemorevisible.InspiredtolaunchtheInstagram
account@chronicallysewnbecauseofa lack
ofrepresentation,Andiedidn’twaitfor
someoneelsetoact,butinstead“connected
withseveralothersewistswhoidentifiedas
disabledorchronicallyill”andbuiltthat
community.Andieurgescompaniesto
“includedisabledpeople in imagery,” but
warnstonot“use
themastokens.”
StephanieThomasis
a DisabilityFashion
Stylist(www.cur8able.
com)anddedicates
hertimetodressing
disabledpeople,
providingdesign
consultancy,and
speakingoutontheworldstageabout
fashionanddisability.Forher,theindustry
mustdothreethings:“Acknowledgethat
peoplewithdisabilitiesareviablefashion
consumers,listentofashioncustomerswith
disabilities,andservedisabledfashion
customerswithoutpityingthemor
patronisingthem.”Stephaniechampionsthe
useoftheterm“adaptivefashion”todescribe
clothingdesignedwithdisabilityinmind,but
admitsthatthere’sstilla longway to go in the
“quest for fashion inclusivity.”