Quite some time ago, I wrote a featured article on “Independence Day Clothing”, a clothing line designed for children with autism, developed by a mom of a child with autism. There is another clothing line I’ve yet to discuss on here called “Runway of Dreams”, which was also developed by a mom of a child with special needs.
Mindy Scheier is a fashion designer who has worked with brands like Saks Fifth Avenue and Bloomingdale’s. However, a few years ago she decided to utilize her talents for a greater purpose. Her son, Oliver, inspired her to start an adaptive clothing nonprofit called Runway of Dreams.
“When Oliver started caring about his style, I had to make a decision: let him wear jeans that meant he couldn’t go to the bathroom on his own, or tell him he couldn’t dress like the other kids,” Scheier told BuzzFeed. “And saying no was not an option.”
The mission of the nonprofit reads as follows:
Runway of Dreams is a nonprofit organization working with the fashion industry to adapt mainstream clothing for the differently-abled community.
Partnering with top brands and retailers, Runway of Dreams works to integrate wearable technology and design modifications into clothing, making it adaptive and wearable for all.
To make this happen, Scheier partnered with Tommy Hilfiger and began working with the brand’s technical design team to replace zippers and buttons with something a little more accessible. In lieu of the standard zippers and buttons, they used MagnaReady technology, adjusted pant and arm lengths, and developed different ways to get in and out of clothing.
The clothing is already available at Tommy Hilfiger in boys’ sizes 4 to 20 and girls’ sizes 4 to 18, but the company isn’t stopping there. According to Scheier, “We already have two more collections in the making. We want to make clothing for all ages, too. And we’re talking to different brands, because our demographic knows no socioeconomic background, and we want to be accessible.”
To learn more, visit the nonprofit’s website here.