Fashion students design adaptive clothing for Independence First

For the second year in a row, Fashion and Apparel Design students at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) worked with Independence First to design adaptive clothing tailor-made for two people who use wheelchairs. The project is part of a junior-level Patternmaking & Construction course.

Quincey Blackwood ’27 and Keira Batzel ’27 worked with Brad Holz, Independence First board member, to design a collared shirt and pants featuring magnetic closures, elastic, and oversize pockets. Marlie-Madison Hansen ’27 and Sherylyn Flores ’27 worked with Andrea Gonzalez ’13 (Industrial Design), payroll and exceptions coordinator for Independence First, to design a dressy jacket and shorts set featuring wide lapels and button details.

Keira Batzel, Brad Holz, and Quincey Blackwood at Independence First.

“I was really excited when I was approached to be one of the models for this,” says Gonzalez. A MIAD alum herself, Gonzalez brought a designer’s eye to the project. “Even when [the students] were showing me the muslin mock ups, it was so considerate. It was so well thought out. And as a person, you can tell when somebody has put some thought and care into this. It was absolutely amazing.”

“They did a great job,” says Holz, who was especially pleased with the magnetic closures and oversize pockets in his garments. “They put pockets on the thighs in front, so instead of having someone get your wallet out of the side of your wheelchair pouch for you, you actually have access to it or your phone or your keys right in front and on your thighs. It’s easy to get them. I love it.”

Batzel, who worked on the design for Holz, said, “It was really important to be able to have this opportunity to design for somebody other than ourselves and be able to know what that experience is like.”

“I think it is really valuable to work with clients,” continues Blackwood, “especially people with such diverse bodies, because really, you only know the experience of living in your own body. So working with people that have such vastly different needs and shapes and sizes is really valuable.”

“I think the biggest thing that I think about when making clothes is how does this give me confidence?” explains Hansen. “Everybody should be able to feel confident in what they’re wearing, whether it’s sweat pants that fit you right or a really good suit. All of it should fit you and you should feel confident in it, and it should work for you—it should help your day. That’s what clothes are for.”

Explore last year’s adaptive design project and learn more about MIAD’s Fashion and Apparel Design major!