Posted Tuesday 14 May 2013
MA Fashion student Garfield Li's funky yet functional womenswear collection was inspired by a visit to a children's hospice near Luton. "I met a boy in a wheelchair whose mother had cut the back out of his jacket so it was more comfortable for him to wear," the 26 year old, originally from Hong Kong, explained. This sparked the young designer's idea to explore whether he could create a range of cutting-edge fashion specifically tailored for wheelchair users.
"A lot of the clothes designed for disabled people are quite old fashioned and look very medical," Garfield, who grew up in a small village in West Lancashire after moving to the United Kingdom, said. "I wanted to design a collection that would really appeal to young women, whether disabled or not, but that would also address the specific needs of people with spinal conditions."
Garfield's i
The two jackets in the collection have the back middle panel removed, so they are comfortable to wear in a wheelchair and easy to put on and take off without help when sitting down. The young fashionista has even included a medical corset in one of the dresses in his collection. "Corset dresses are very popular at the moment and, as many people with spinal conditions have to wear a medical version, I decided to create a garment that incorporated one within the fabric," Garfield explained.
Kingston's MA Fashion course director Andrew Ibi said his students were encouraged to think laterally and apply their design skills to a range of challenges set by industry partners. "Garfield has found a unique way of approaching this project combining focused design with savvy business acumen", Mr Ibi said. "His work is testament to the entrepreneurial thread that runs through the course."
Garfield hopes his illustrations will eventually be transformed into garments and make it on to the rails of clothing shops up and down the country.
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