This systematic literature review examines research on adaptive apparel for people with disabilities (PWDs), an underrepresented consumer group. Using the scientific procedures and rationales for systematic literature reviews (SPAR‐4‐SLR) protocol and the theories, contexts, characteristics, and methods (TCCM) framework, 51 articles from three academic databases were analyzed based on specific keywords and inclusion/exclusion criteria. The review highlighted advancements addressing the needs of PWD consumers, such as innovative designs, user‐centered methodologies, and inclusive marketing. However, there remain gaps in areas like disability types, methodologies, cultural factors, and societal barriers. The implications of this research underscore the urgent need for the apparel industry to prioritize inclusivity and adaptability, emphasizing that addressing these gaps can lead to broader societal acceptance and empowerment for PWDs. Moreover, this review enhances the understanding of adaptive apparel for PWD consumers, providing insights for researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders to promote inclusivity, accessibility, and fashion‐forward solutions.

Mindy Scheier, a former fashion designer and mother of a child with a disability, developed adaptive apparel design innovations focused on three categories: (a) magnetic closures; (b) adjustable pant legs, sleeves, and waistband; and (c) the flexibility of donning and doffing using different points of entry. The adaptive design features were incorporated into a first-of-its-kind adaptive children’s wear line collaboration with Tommy Hilfiger^® in 2016. Scheier’s adaptive design features and her collaboration with Tommy Hilfiger^® were well documented and have influenced additional adaptive apparel lines in mainstream fashion. The goal of this study was to gain an in-depth and contextualized understanding of Scheier’s design process to determine how she developed her adaptive apparel design innovations using a user-focused approach. To achieve this goal, a case study was deployed. This study revealed that Scheier included the PWD (people with disabilities) user in every stage of her design process by building trust and allyship with the PWD population. Further, Scheier had to balance the needs of the PWD user with that of the apparel industry to ensure her adaptive design features were included in mainstream apparel.

The purpose of this study was to gain a baseline understanding of the terms currently used to define apparel for people living with disability (PLWD) and to encourage discussion for satisfying the apparel needs and wants of PLWD. The objectives were to conduct a literature review of the terms—adaptive, functional, universal design, and inclusive design—to survey how these terms are used in the marketplace, and to compare their usage to that in the literature. The results of a content analysis showed that adaptive is the most popular term used in the marketplace, yet, according to the literature review, reflects a medical model of disability. The term functional reflects a utilitarian purpose in the literature, with minimal application for PLWD in the marketplace. The terms universal and inclusive design are rarely used to define apparel for PLWD in the marketplace despite the heavy focus in the literature.

The apparel global supply chain is fragmented and globalized, making it challenging to satisfy consumers’ wants and needs. Thus, to satisfy the consumer's wants and needs, global supply chain management is critical to a brand's success in the marketplace. The goal of this study was to gain an in-depth, holistic, and contextualized understanding of the experience and knowledge Mindy Scheier, an adaptive apparel advocate, gained by managing and negotiating the existing supply chain functions during her collaboration with Tommy Hilfiger® to launch the first mainstream children's adaptive apparel line. To achieve this goal, a case study was deployed. The authors found that supply chain networks required unique adaptations to their existing manufacturing processes to ensure the adaptive design innovations were viable; however, those supply chain adaptations were not significant. Further, the authors found that a collaborative partnership with an advocate seemingly provided a competitive advantage in the marketplace.

In response to research which argues that people living with a disability (PLWD) face societal barriers including workplace participation, this study explored how the barriers to social participation, specifically workplace participation, faced by PLWD are exacerbated by the lack of appropriate clothing and the role that stigma, self-efficacy, and clothing have in workplace participation. Finding appropriate clothing is a significant barrier to social participation for many PLWD. The social model of disability used in this study supports this by suggesting that it is society which places barriers to PLWD rather than their disability. A qualitative inquiry of semi-structured, in-depth interviews was used, and the results showcase six sub-themes of barriers: work defines me, disability as the barrier to workplace participation, work allows extra societal opportunities, stigma questions my self-efficacy, workplace accommodations diminish my stigma, and clothing builds my self-efficacy. The study found that, for PLWD, workplace participation is hindered because of occupational typecasting and lack of appropriate clothing, which increases their stigma and decreases their self-efficacy. The contributions of this study include theory support, policy, community, and educational enhancement.

Purpose: The goal of this study was to explore the development of the first-of-its-kind mainstream adaptive apparel line for children through the collaboration of an adaptive apparel advocate and an apparel brand.Design/methodology/approach: To achieve this goal, the study used the resource advantage (RA) and first-mover advantage theory to conduct a case study investigating the lived experiences of Mindy Scheier as she created the adaptive apparel movement and collaborated with Tommy Hilfiger® to launch the first-of-its-kind mainstream adaptive apparel line for children.Findings: The result of the case study revealed two dominant themes: (1) “I am going to educate the entire industry” and (2) “You mean no mainstream brands have done this before?” Using RA theory and first-mover advantage theory, the themes illustrated the advocate's position as a key competitive resource, how she leveraged the key competitive resources with an apparel brand, and subsequently, how the brand, using the advocate as a key competitive resource, established a first-mover advantage in the adaptive apparel market to develop the first-of-its-kind mainstream adaptive apparel line for children in the marketplace.Originality/value: This study demonstrated how RA theory could be applied to the partnership between an advocate and an apparel firm and how the key resources acquired and utilized by the advocate support a competitive advantage within the adaptive apparel marketplace.