“I chose”. Case Study of An Inclusive Fashion Design Education Project

Abstract

A significant portion of the population is excluded from fashion, not by choice, but by design. Most fashion products are not created with disabled individuals in mind, fashion imagery rarely represents them, and physical stores often remain inaccessible due to architectural barriers. The problem extends to fashion education. Most fashion schools don’t include design for disability in their curricula, prioritizing market demands over human-centered design and teaching students to cater to industry trends rather than diverse bodies. But what might the industry look like if inclusivity were central to a student’s education rather than an afterthought? Is it possible to teach fashion design in a more inclusive way? Two years ago, Milan’s IUAD launched a project with the daycare center Il Melograno, whose guests have various physical and cognitive disabilities. Students partnered with these individuals, creating clothes first for them and then with them. The outcomes of the project were then presented to the public, giving disabled people direct access to and visibility within the fashion world. The next stage will be to launch an inclusive fashion brand. This essay presents a case study of the project from both an educational and a social point of view.