💌 From Rut’s Studio

Hello friends,

I'm back from a short break — time I used to rest, walk, read, and simply be present offline. 🌿

That pause reminded me why I began this work: not just to design clothes, but to design possibilities. Every zip, every seam, every choice we make can either create barriers or open doors.

As we step into this new season, I'm energized to share both quiet reflections and bold innovations that are reshaping fashion for all bodies and minds.

💡 Notice this

Fashion is still playing the "separate but equal" game.

Just this month, Manchester-based brand Recondition launched their adaptive jeans range — exciting progress, but it got me thinking about our industry's persistent pattern.

Brands launch adaptive capsules with genuine intentions, but they often remain:

• Hidden in separate sections

• Underfunded compared to mainline collections

• Marketed as "special needs" rather than smart design

The shift I'm seeing?

Forward-thinking designers are weaving accessibility into their main collections from day one.

The result:

✅ Customers feel valued, not segregated
✅ Innovation happens faster when it's not siloed
✅ Business grows through genuine inclusion, not tokenism

🧠 Curious about…

What if the future of fashion wasn't just about what we wear, but how our clothes respond to us?

The innovation happening right now is remarkable:

• Squid-inspired fabrics that adjust heat based on body temperature

• Programmable smart fabrics that respond to both temperature and electricity

• Textiles with integrated sensors tracking body temperature, movement, and hydration

Here's what excites me most: these aren't "disabled-specific" innovations. They're human-specific innovations that happen to solve accessibility challenges beautifully.

Thought to carry with you this week: 
Who is your design process unintentionally leaving behind — and how could their needs spark your next breakthrough?

🗓️ Agenda: Upcoming Events in Inclusive Fashion

🌟👗 Inclusive Fashion Accelerator 2025

Online | Starts 15 September 2025

Learn to design inclusively without creating separate lines. We explore practical frameworks, accessibility audits, and universal design strategies that make business sense.
More info

🌟 Adaptive Rebellion: Inclusive Fashion Show – Edinburgh

When: 20 September 2025
Where: Edinburgh
Why it matters: A bold declaration rewriting fashion norms—this unapologetically powerful show is a celebration of adaptive design, authenticity, and fearless expression.
More Info

🌟 Unhidden at London Fashion Week – Spring/Summer 2026

When: 18–22 September 2025 (Spring/Summer 2026 schedule)
Where: London Fashion Week
Why it matters: Unhidden, led by Victoria Jenkins, will be presenting on LFW's main schedule. This marks a landmark moment—adaptive fashion elevated to the heart of one of the world’s leading fashion weeks
More Info

🧵 Innovation corner

🔹The Jacket That Thinks for Itself

I discovered something fascinating: a winter jacket that automatically adjusts its insulation based on humidity and body heat.

How it works:

• In cool conditions: 13mm thick insulation for maximum warmth

• When humidity rises: compresses to 2mm, allowing natural cooling

• Result: 82.8% better thermal regulation, extending comfort by over 7 hours

Why this matters for inclusive design
For people managing temperature regulation challenges, sensory sensitivities, or mobility limitations, this could be genuinely life-changing.
For everyone else?
It's simply smarter clothing.

The Bigger Picture

Predictions suggest that by 2025, about 10% of all electronics will be integrated into our clothing.
We're not just talking about fitness trackers — we're talking about garments that truly adapt to human needs.

This reminds us that inclusive innovation isn't about medicalizing fashion. It's about creating clothing that responds, adapts, and works better for everyone.

🔗 More on the story

💭 Final Thought

The adaptive clothing market is projected to reach $32.12 billion by 2032, but numbers don't tell the human story.

Every innovation we've discussed today started with someone saying: "This doesn't work for me. There has to be a better way."

The future of fashion isn't about creating separate solutions for separate people.
It's about designing with such thoughtfulness that our clothes work beautifully for the full spectrum of human experience.

That's all for this edition. 
As always, I'd love to hear what resonated with you — hit reply and share your thoughts. Your input shapes the conversations we build together.

With warmth and intention,
Rut ✨