The new Tommy Hilfiger Adaptive Collection has arrived

The Spring 2018 Adaptive Collection line is the third Tommy Hilfiger collection designed specifically for people with disabilities

Words by Victoria Fell

For some people with disabilities, tasks that non-disabled people take for granted can sometimes be a struggle - and this includes getting dressed. With the CDC finding that one out of five adults in the US have a disability, and Scope reporting that there are 13.9 million people with a disability in the UK, this is an issue that affects a huge number of people all over the world.

Tommy Hilfiger has recognised this, and this week launched his Spring 2018 Adaptive Collection, his third line aimed specifically for people with disabilities (following a children’s line in 2016 and the first adult collection launched in 2017).

According to Bustle, the campaign features notable figures from the disabled community, including US Paralympian gold medal track star Jeremy Campbell, motivational speaker Mama Caxx, paraplegic dancer Chelsie Hill and 18-year-old autistic chef Jeremiah Josey.

The clothes in the 2018 Adaptive Collection still look like your typical Tommy Hilfiger collection, with colour blocking, stripes and his signature red, white and blue palette. The big difference is, as the name of the collection suggests, some elements of the clothing have been adapted. This includes magnetic buttons, adjustable pant hems to accommodate a prosthetic or brace, wrist loops to help put on pants, easy open necklines, expanded back and side openings, one-handed zippers, and Velcro closures.

Bustle also reported that changes have been made to the 2018 collection based on feedback from the first line. These include the fact that the quality of the Velcro closures has been improved, bungee cord closures are replacing zippers, and plackets at the waistline make putting on pants easier for those in wheelchairs.

Hilfiger spoke to CNN last year and said, ‘Inclusivity and the democratization of fashion have always been at the core of my brand's DNA.’ He went on, ‘These collections continue to build on that vision, empowering differently abled adults to express themselves through fashion.'