Venus’ Closet

This project began as a collaborative effort to address an overlooked issue in the fashion industry. According to CDC statistics, nearly one in four people live with some form of physical disability. Yet most clothing on the market is designed for able-bodied consumers, leaving those with different needs with very limited access to stylish options.

Our team envisioned a digital platform that connects users with clothing brands, designers, and suppliers who focus on inclusivity. The goal was to create a place where people can discover apparel that not only accommodates diverse bodies but also allows them to express personal style with confidence. We wanted to show that accessibility and aesthetics should coexist, rather than be seen as separate.

Research

After having a general knowledge of the topic through secondary research, we conducted primary research mainly through survey and interviews. We interviewed professors with experience of designing products for people with disabilities, accommodation facilitators from Michigan Medicine, and family member of people with disabilities. Through the process, we realized that the stakeholders of our product are not only people with disabilities to fulfill their fashion needs, but also people taking care of them, because they would assist our users to put on these adaptive clothing.

According to our research, our target users’ core needs are having more apparel options for clothing that combines their physical and fashion needs, as well as expressing their identity through fashion choices and challenging stereotypes by normalizing disability within mainstream culture. Therefore, we created Venus’ Closet, an online inclusive e-commerce app for disabled individuals with mobility difficulties.