Inclusivity speaks boldly about celebrating every lived experience and adoption by the community as a whole. Adaptive fashion is largely known for only addressing the functional aspects of fashion. As we innovate easier ways of dressing, we also challenge ourselves to innovate chic and unique styles as a means of reshaping systemic biases. Great design is disruptive and it is tied to meaningful storytelling. Before jumping into our projects, my thesis professor from Parsons, Brendan McCarthy taught us that it was very important to firstly ask why. He asked us to consider “What is at stake?”

Tommy Hilfiger, MagnaReady, Zappos and Jupiter Unlimited have made great strides in raising the awareness of adaptive fashion within the US. We saw a gap in the market here in Asia-Pacific and in luxury adaptive wear. Adaptive fashion has the potential to be more than velcro or T-shirts. It can be a refreshing experience and also fun to wear.

 

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When I moved back to Singapore late 2019, I was not satisfied with starting an eponymous label in my name. Names have power and it is an opportunity to tell a story much more meaningful than my own. “Wearable” and “we are able”. The name is a wordplay that unifies our two central ideas — where our clothes are designed for their wearability as well as their ability to give people a sense of agency and empowerment.

At Werable, we innovate easy-to-wear apparel, thoughtfully designed for life. We bring adaptive designer fashion to the masses while co- creating with the community.

Existing ways of dressing are built with the assumption that all users have the same range of motion and dexterity. T-shirts, sweaters, pants, dresses and even sleeves adopt a cylindrical form, leaning towards a tunnelling action as a way of getting dressed. We find unconventional ways to construct our clothes so that dressing can continue to be an exciting and dignified experience.

 

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At its inception, easy-to-wear is a category of clothing that exists to ease dressing for people with disabilities and the ageing. We pinpoint dressing challenges that arise with reduced mobility and dexterity.

We have swimwear, outerwear, activewear etc — all categories which are conceived to help us thrive in different climates, occasions and activities. Easy-to-wear is an extension of these typologies and empowering independence.

Easy-to-wear aims to provide convenience for the masses. However, at its core, it is about inspiring confidence and that we are able wear to what we want. Being able to dress oneself is something we take for granted. My dream for Werable is that we may empower lives through thoughtfully made fashion.

The greatest challenge thus far has been to grow beyond the role of a designer. To bridge this gap, it called for a shift in mindset and an expansion of my skill sets. Business, marketing and brand strategies play a massive role in creating sustainable solutions that can scale for impact. I am thankful for my support system and with their help, I am learning more everyday.

 

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Traceability is a topic my peers and I have often circled back to. As we are easing into pre-orders, we might not have the volume that grants us access to vetted or eco-conscious materials. The fashion industry needs to look towards technology as an enabler and it needs to start at the mill. I cannot wait till blockchain becomes a norm throughout the entire supply chain.

Currently, we are looking to expand our network with occupational therapists and hospitals. It is important for us to exercise empathy for our community and add value to the bigger road map healthcare institutions are initiating.

In three years, I would like Werable to be the go-to for easy-to-wear fashion. We are developing a womenswear collection with the support of Werable’s parent company Potato Productions and with DesignSingapore Council’s Good Design Research Initiative grant.

This interview with Claudia Poh of Wearable first appeared in our September 2021 issue.