Ryan Rix, a fashion designer from Swansea, is advocating for accessible fashion. Born with one forearm, Rix found it difficult to find clothes that both fittingly and stylishly accommodated his physical disability. Rix began creating and adapting his own clothes to better suit his needs.
The 22-year-old has made designs that cater to physical disabilities such as zippers on sleeves to keep jackets removable, avoiding buttons, and utilizing velcro and poppers for easier dress days. Rix is taking part in an ITV show allowing designers to compete against each other for a role with the popular British high street brand Marks & Spencer.
Rix states that his focus is on fashionable but functional clothing, yet one of the biggest challenges he faces is making the designs as wearable as they are stylish. He notes that a few brands have started to source into the accessible clothing market, but not enough recognize the need for theirs to be truly exclusive.
As Rix’s designs are yet to be released and remain commission-based, he has received several positive emails from people seeking advice who have lost limbs. He genuinely would love exposure for his work since not everyone understands his vision or how important it is to constructing accessible clothing.
Following Rix’s experience on the show, he ultimately hopes to one day showcase his clothing by his own name and help others understand better how crucial clothing accessibility is to those with a physical disability. Rix aspires to highlight fashion in Wales, which he believes is left out of the industry
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