Om Fashion Freaks

Fashion Freaks 2.0 avslutades 2015.

Meagan och SusanneMeagan Whellans kommer ursprungligen från Australien och har examen i textildesign från ett av Melbournes Universitet.

Susanne Berg frilansar som skribent och utredare och är rullstolsanvändare sedan 30 år.

”Jag har sytt och ändrat kläder i mängder under mitt kvartssekel som rullstolsanvändare utan att hitta en bra lösning. 2001 träffade jag Meagan och vi började diskutera kläder nästan omedelbart.”

Efter ett tag övergick våra samtal i försöksverksamhet. Vi testade att ändra standardmönster och insåg att det var svårare och tog avsevärt mycket mer tid än vi räknat med. Vi insåg att vi behövde ett hem och en sponsor för projektet.

Independent Living Institute gillade våra idéer om funktionellt gör-det-själv mode och blev vårt hem på Internet.

Allmänna Arvsfonden har finansierat våra projekt.

Du når oss på fashionfreaks@independentliving.org

Fashion Freaks 1.0

I vårt första projekt sökte vi lösningar för hur grundmönster skulle vara utformade för att göra det möjligt att sy kläder i sittande form. Resultatet blev ett antal grundmönster – jackor, byxor, kjolar – som alla är formade för den sittande kroppen. Vi söker naturligtvis lösningar som är så funktionella som möjligt men gör aldrig avkall på fåfängeaspekten. Hos oss hittar du inga kjolar utan bakdel eller säckliknande skynken. Vi tar inte heller särskild hänsyn till hur lätt det är för någon annan att assistera med påklädning och avklädning. Vill du ha sådana lösningar får du leta någon annanstans.

Vi insåg snabbt att den moderna människan – i alla fall i västerlandet – för det mesta köper färdigt och ofta är relativt värdelös på att sy. Till mönstren finns därför detaljerade syinstruktioner med mängder av illustrationer. Allt för att föra det så enkelt som möjligt för användare av informationen på vår webb.

Fashion Freaks 1.0 avslutades 2007.

Fashion Freaks 2.0 – Remade, Recycled, Revisited

I slutet av 2010 ansökte vi om finansiering till en utökning av informationen på webbsajten. Erfarenheter vi hade från det första projektet och feedback från användare av mönstren visade att trots syinstruktioner m.m. är det fortfarande för jobbigt och svårt för många rullstolsanvändare att sy välsittande, väl fungerande och snygga kläder. I ärlighetens namn är det inte heller så att man alltid vill. Även rullstolsanvändare har rätt att vara lata.

Det nya projektet är ett tänkt 3-årigt projekt där vi planerar att:
– ta fram och ge instruktioner om hur man anpassar färdigsydda/”köpta” kläder;
– ta fram och ge instruktioner för hur man använder delar eller hela köpekläder för att skapa andra sorters plagg eller snyggare lösningar (Oavsett hur bra man är på att sy är det omöjligt att skapa vissa sorters plagg med bra nog kvalitet. Det kan också vara viktigt att få se ut som om man köpt sin klädsel i ”fina” butiken.);
– ta fram stickmönster och instruktioner för tröjor etc. för en sittande position;
– ta fram delplagg som kan användas tillsammans med andra plagg för bästa funktion;
– ge tips om existerande plagg och accessoarer som kan kombineras för funktion och fåfänga;
– försöka hitta lösningar för praktiska ytterkläder till rullstolsanvändare som använder balansstöd som selar, stag etc.

Allmänna Arvsfonden gav oss i april stöd till det första av projektets tre år. Under detta håller vi på att testa hur färdigsydda/köpta kläder lätt kan ändras så att passform, funktion och stil passar rullstolsanvändare.

Fashion Freaks 2.0 avslutades 2015.

39 Responses to Om Fashion Freaks

  1. laurel Zuberi skriver:

    please let me know how i can get a pattern for wheelchair using women! thank you so much, laurel zuberi

  2. Erika skriver:

    I want to thank you so much for the patterns.
    I was looking long time for it.
    Now i sew a trouser for my housband and it fits very well.

    With kind regards from Austria
    Erika

  3. Henriksen skriver:

    Hej
    En fantastiskt bra sida. Informativ och trevlig. Den behövs. Ni fortsätter väl att utveckla den. Har lagt upp Fashion Freaks som en länk i vår nätbutik för sytillbehör och hoppas fler hittar till er.
    Vänliga hälsningar
    Charlott o Rolf Henriksen
    SyAsken

    • susanne skriver:

      Vi försöker göra så gott det går men har haft litet probem med annat. Men det är mer i pipeline som kommer framöver.

      Tack för länken. Vi kommer förmodligen också att lägga till en länklista framöver så jag har lagt in er i mappen för ”favoriter”.

  4. Diana skriver:

    You guys are AWESOME! 🙂 I sew for my 12 year old mulitlpy disabled daughter and it is great to see people doing this! Now, if you invent a training bra that is easy to get on and off a person with Cerebral Palsy, you’ll tell me, right? 😉 I’ve been struggling with pants for a long time, especially with having enough room for a diaper and still looking great. I can’t thank you enough!!

    Diana

    • susanne skriver:

      We will add links and thoughts on using clothes available on the mainstream market in the future. So if we find an easy on easy off training bra we’ll let you know for sure 🙂 Hopefully one that stays on when on too. I don’t think we have enough invention or skill to make one ourselves. LOL

    • Deborah skriver:

      I too would love a pattern for a bra that’s easy to get on and off, i.e. front closure NOT back!

      Terrific site with super help – thank you, girls!

  5. melanie mckenzie skriver:

    please send me patterns for my brother in law he has mnd many thanks

  6. Jenifer Williams skriver:

    I am a 35 year old woman with several disabling conditions, three of them being different forms of Arthritis. I’ve had Rheumatoid Arthritis since the age of 7 and since then it has put me into a wheelchair for good due to deformations in joints.
    I have been looking for a website that sells fashionable clothing for woman, men and children in wheelchairs. I have yet to find a site that’s affordable and fashionable. if you know of any will you please send me the information via my email.

    • susanne skriver:

      Eventually we aim to provide links but as you already seem to have experienced it is not easy to find places that provide fashionable and affordable adapted clothes.

  7. Jaci Gibson-Henrie skriver:

    Ladies!
    I am a custom seamstress/designer in the US. I agree that there aren’t enough RTW clothing addressing the wheelies let alone patterns that work for custom mfg.
    I can sew well and have a custom business and my number of clients of this persuation is growing by word of mouth and crying need.
    Please add me to your group and if you are looking for testers, I have people!
    Jaci Gibson-Henrie
    San Diego, CA USA

    • susanne skriver:

      Hi,
      Thanks for yur kind offer. We’re having a short paus just now but I will get back to you later in the project.

  8. nancy young skriver:

    Do you have any ideas for making a one piece garment for my godchildren who like to pull out parts of their diapers and expose the top parts of their bodies? I am thinking about a ”onesie” for young adults with multiple needs [both are wheelies and need sanitary protection. I look forward to your ideas!
    Thank you

    NAncy

    • susanne skriver:

      Hi, have you tried any ´solutions like these http://en.fashionfreaks.se/adapting-ready-made-clothes/simple-adaptions/jackets-holding-in-place/ I’m thinking more of the elastic with button holes which could be sewn onto the outside of the tops at the height suitable to match buttons on inside of pants’ waistband. I know it might not work as your godchildren still could get a hold of the end of the tops and maybe even rip the buttons out if the elastic held.
      We are not planning on looking into this at the moment but I wonder if you could use some tips from how they sew men’s shirts in latin dancing. I don’t know how practical it would be – would probably look good though.
      If you find a solution please share.

    • susanne skriver:

      Nancy,
      I’m always on the hunt for adaption links for FashionFreaks and today I stumbled upon something that reminded me about your comment.

      This blogger provides a great instruction on how to make a pattern and sew a onsie for bigger kids. Maybe it’s something for you to try.
      http://somethingsewspecial.blogspot.se/2010/06/sew-big-kid-onesie-bodyshirt.html

  9. saad skriver:

    this site is really great …….
    I am studying architecture.(i am from bangladesh)…..
    i have my own sewing machine and sew my own bag and pants….. .
    i dont have any kind of training or even any book with clear instruction of how to take measurement and draw the patterns using those measurements.. can you help me?

    • susanne skriver:

      There are instructions on how to take the measurements under the tab ”Important to read …”. Our patterns are downloaded in printable pdf-file. Please, check the links.

      If there’s something specific that is unclear, we need to know what this is, as we are located in Sweden and can only provide information via this website.

  10. Deena skriver:

    I came upon your site while looking to find clothing patterns for myself . I used to use a wheelchair and I wasn’t too badly off in terms of my clothes needing alteration. However, after getting a prosthetic leg, all hell broke lose when it came to pants. I have issues with the pants leg constantly bunching up at the thighs or the pants itself being too tight or too loose, or too short . I am extremely eager to try out your patterns.

    • susanne skriver:

      Please, let us know the outcome by sending us an email. It would help us see if we need to adapt patterns for prosthetics but also leg braces.

  11. Rosalie skriver:

    hej vilka supermönster …jag är personlig assistent och har sytt många byxor som passar utmärkt

  12. Elisabeth Sjögren skriver:

    Hej!
    Jag hittade den här sidan då jag letade enkla kjolmönster. Så enkelt!!
    Men till saken hör att jag är gående. Kan jag som inte är rullstolsanvändare sy från samma mönster?
    Hur blir kjolarna på mig?

    I övrigt så är det en fantastisk sida med lättförståeliga råd för mig som är nygammal vid symaskinen =)

    Tack//Bettan

    • susanne skriver:

      Du kan använda syinstruktionerna men mönstren fungerar bara i sittande ställning. Undantag är möjligen kavajerna utan den böjda ryggen.

      Susanne

  13. Eveline Klose skriver:

    what a great site! you don’t know how long i have been looking for exactly this detailed instructions to adjust pants and for a pattern with a suitable suite-style jacket! JUST GREAT GREAT GREAT! thank you so much for your good idea and the work you do with this website! 😀

    • susanne skriver:

      Actually, I think I have a pretty good idea as the impetus for the project/s behind the site was my wish/need for an adapted suit jacket. Ooooh the number of ridiculously bad trials I did before I met Meagan and we – after initial equally ridiculous trials together – decided to apply for project funding. 🙂

      Still, not really happy with the present solutions but we have some more in the pipeline – as well as a couple of ideas as to how to recycle the nice design features/pieces of bought jackets and add adapted pieces to make the show stopper we all want (well at least you and me i think).
      …. and I still haven’t ordered a leather jacket – made from my adapted pattern – from the bike shop.
      Keep up the looking-good-work / Susanne

  14. Lenore Domanko skriver:

    Do you have a pattern for open back pants for wheelchair patients?

  15. sharelyn skriver:

    I have just been asked to sew some pants for my cousin who is in a wheelchair.
    I’m so happy to have found your site.
    I was curious to know what the basic alterations that have been made (or would need to be made) for best results.
    I’ve noticed extra room in the seat and knee tucks. I was just wondering what other things would be helpful to adjust.
    Thank you!

  16. Debbie skeil skriver:

    Dear fashionfreaks
    thank you for your great work on this. I work in India and we would like to teach the local tailors how to do these adaptations and use the patterns. This would not then be for personal use. It may be that they cannot actually use the patterns as generally they draft their own and most cannot read patterns. But if they can use the patterns, would this be OK. Generally they are making clothes requested by a person, not pre-making them and selling them.
    We work in a hospital providing rehabilitation services. This request comes about as the OTs would like to get clothes made up that are suitable for the patients groups we see. We will get these made up so they can practise dressing with them. Then the individuals can ask the tailors to make clothes for them to take home.
    The tailors are all persons with disabilities who are being trained to be tailors – a vocation that works financially here. They are trained at the Mary Verghese Trust
    If you need any more information, please get back to me.
    Thank you for considering this.
    regards
    Debbie Skeil
    Rehab Physician

    • susanne skriver:

      Debbie, I am relly sorry but your comment slipped to the back and I didn’t realise that it was even there. Of course you can teach them how to use the patterns. It wouldn’ät be for their personal use but it wouldn’t be production line either. and it would benefit them as well as other disabled people.
      I hope you have gone ahead and done this already even though my answer was delayed. If you see this and there’s any help we can provide please contact me at susanne@fashionfreaks.se directly. That way, it will not go amiss the amount of comments we get.

  17. Carole skriver:

    My Aunt (87 years old) is wheelchair bound and living in long-term care.

    I have found a great store in Toronto that sells open-back adaptive clothing.

    The staff at the home seem to like the dresses best.

    The only problem is they are costly and I would like to try sewing a dress for her myself.

    I did not see any information or patterns on your website for dresses.

    Please let me know if you have any suggestions.

  18. Lucy Wynne skriver:

    I was directed here and I’m delighted to have arrived.
    I’m currently in my chair just over half of my day but that is heading for full time.
    It’s frustrating (as you know) finding clothes that fit/work if you then have a ”plus
    size” figure eeek!
    Though oddly enough I’m discovering that the same is true if you’re of a small build.
    Having spent my adult life plus size, my conditions are causing me to lose height/weight.
    So that at 58 yrs old I need hats for a child 9 months – 3 years (my sunglasses are for a 3 yr old). Likewise gloves. Thankfully due to water retention I can wear shoes at size 5. My real size is 3.5
    Oh, well challenges make us stronger and I’m looking forward to using your site to help in my challenges :~)

  19. Lori Andrews skriver:

    This site is awesome! My husband has been in a wheelchair for 25 years, and from here I got ideas of how to alter his Wrangler Stretch jeans to expand the waist a little due to his seated position. Now I’m looking for a way to tighten the cuffs on sweaters.

  20. Nancy Childs skriver:

    I like to knit and crochet and give away whatever I make. Do you know of any knit or crochet patterns for those who use a wheelchair or are bed bound or spend a great deal of time in recliner chairs? I have patterns for lap robes so am really looking for clothing patterns. Thanks. Great website for those who sew!

  21. Patricia Stockbrocks skriver:

    I am searching for suitable patterns to make pants, shorts for my 6 ft 4 in son about 225 lbs., (193 cm and 102 kg)he is in a wheelchair. Young and wants to look like the rest of the crowd.We have endured countless poor quality clothing and it seems the best are not in North America. Some good items from Germany, but by the time you get them, the size is not right, the fabric is too rigid..as if you don’t have enough challenges in life already. Your tips for adapting tops, etc are brilliant. I will check the online patterns and tips for using regular clothes. Also suggestion for ideal stretchy , softer fabrics for easier dressing, undressing by caregivers. Most of us do not have the time to spare to research this topic, but it is so important. Sincere Thanks

  22. Patricia Stockbrocks skriver:

    regarding clothing that is easier to put on by caregivers, that is also easier for the person trying to get dressed, being twisted repeatedly to adjust properly on their bed, is no fun for anyone. It’s a design that is a win win. I commented before, looking for suitable patterns/fabrics for my tall son in a wheelchair.
    Sincere thanks

  23. SUSAN KOLKO skriver:

    HELLO-
    YOUR WEBSITE IS OUTSTANDING !! I AM A COLLEGE PROFESSOR WRITING A BOOK ABOUT ADAPTIVE CLOTHING. ARE YOUR PATTERNS PUBLIC DOMAIN OR DO I NEED YOUR PERMISSION TO INCLUDE THEM IN MY CONTENT? IN ADDITION, I WOULD LOVE TO BE IN TOUCH WITH YOU BOTH TO LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR CURRENT WORK EFFORTS AND POSSIBLY INCLUDE A CASE STUDEY REGARDING YOUR WEBSITE AND EXPERIENCES
    THANK YOU !

  24. Inger Forsmo skriver:

    Vad gör jag om måttet på pappret stämmer men inte måtten mellan hakarna för att sammanfoga arken?

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