Clothing for Every Body: Jefferson Fashion Students Design Clothes for Prosthetics, Skin Sensitivities
Reading Time: 4 minutes
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Summary:
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Jefferson students design adaptive clothing for prosthetic users
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Features include magnetic seams, full-leg zippers, and sensory-friendly fabrics
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Clients include amputees and neurodiverse individuals with custom needs
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Project reflects growing demand for inclusive, functional fashion
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Adaptive wear market gains traction with major brands and design schools
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For people with prosthetic limbs, even basic tasks like dressing can be a daily struggle. And for a long time, mainstream fashion has rarely addressed this issue. But recently, more fashion designers and students are learning to create inclusive designs. Senior students at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia are now required to learn how to design clothing that accommodates all bodies, especially those using prosthetics or have other physical or sensory needs.
One of the first to benefit from the course was Teto Saunders, who lost his leg above the knee over 20 years ago after a gunshot wound. Typical clothes often proved a frustrating puzzle: pants that fit over a prosthetic draped too loosely, and standard fasteners, like buttons and zippers, made dressing difficult. In an interview with WHYY, Saunders said that even when it came to dress wear, finding pants that wouldn’t dig into the prosthetic was often uncomfortable.
But thanks to Jefferson’s adaptive fashion class, Saunders had clothes tailor-fit for him. Over several months, students learned about his lifestyle, style preferences, and practical dressing needs with a prosthetic limb. The result: custom adaptive clothing designed not only for comfort but also for dignity.
Solutions included dress pants with sewn-in magnets along the sides and zippers extending the entire length of the pant leg, enabling Saunders to dress without removing his prosthetic or dealing with tight openings. Students also designed pants with adjustable waistbands to eliminate the need for belts and added straps to secure prosthetic braces.
Another thoughtful feature was a bottom tie that cinches to create the look of a tucked-in shirt without actual tucking—a small change that avoids interfering with the prosthesis or causing discomfort. Details like these emphasize functionality without sacrificing style.
Saunders mentioned that the experience has changed how he perceives fashion and his connection to it. He said that the design experience pushed him out of his comfort zone: from feeling that nothing was available for him to discovering clothes that fit. Now, he’s more open to trying different designs and patterns.
This focus on real-world needs reflects a growing trend in fashion toward true inclusivity. Carly Kusy, director of the fashion design program at Jefferson, explained to WHYY that the course embodies a philosophy that fashion isn’t solely about appearance. She emphasized the importance of recognizing diverse lived experiences, including those of people with physical disabilities. As the adaptive wear market continues to grow—with well-known brands like Tommy Hilfiger, Anthropologie, and Target catering to people with disabilities and chronic illnesses—the students are equipped to enter a job market where design addresses real human needs.
The senior students didn’t only learn how to design clothes for prosthetic users; they also worked with clients who brought diverse sensory and physical needs into the design process. One such client was Rachel Updegrove, an autistic architect and professor, who requested clothing that was comfortable, breathable, and free of internal irritation, such as seams.
The students approached the project by carefully listening to the clients’ daily experiences with clothing—identifying sources of discomfort and features that would make garments feel more comfortable than off-putting. For Updegrove, this collaboration resulted in a tailored blazer and jumpsuit that addressed temperature regulation and sensory sensitivities, incorporating small tactile details she could play with when she fidgets.
By incorporating adaptive design into the curriculum, Jefferson addresses a longstanding gap in mainstream fashion, where people with disabilities, sensory needs, or prosthetic limbs have often been neglected by brands. And as the adaptive fashion movement fuels an industry shift toward valuing inclusivity as integral to good design, courses like this not only equip students to pursue careers that celebrate human diversity but also represent a step toward a more thoughtful fashion industry—one where clothing can accommodate every body.
Related Reading:
What to Look for When Buying Adaptive Clothing
