• Replies 18 replies
  • Subscribers 87 subscribers
  • Views 5934 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Related
Hints and tips
  • To quote someone's message, first select/highlight the relevant text, and then use the Quote button that appears
  • To "mention" someone, type @ followed by the start of the forum name, and choose from the list; that person will get a notification of being mentioned

Autistic Fashion, what do we want it to look and feel like? Comfort, off-trend and jewelry for stims?

Dawn

I just took part in a fascinating research survey which really made me think.

I signed up to the Autism Research Centre volunteer list. You know Mr Barron Cohen's lot at the University of Cambridge. Well worth doing folks. Once and a while they send me an e-mail with assorted research projects on Autism I may like to assist with, say by filling out a survey. Got one today. A social scientist and a fashion designer, both autistic themselves, are having a little dig at what clothes we choose to buy and why, and what our ideal choices are, do we feel the high street caters to us, do we even care if we are fashionable? Here's the link, if anyone is interested in putting in their penny worth:

[link removed as the link is to a research study requesting participants. This breaks rule 9 of the online community rules]

But completing it did make me think....

I'm a yarn and fabric junky. Yes, my yarn stash does occupy a whole room in my house. Yes, once the sewing machine comes out, I can't put it away for months whether I actually need new clothes or not. Yes having made one pair of crochet socks, I will spend the next two years making my own designs ever convinced that next pair will be the perfect pair. Yes, I can bore you rigid with yarn blends, stitch types and pattern books, uh err hum, "special intetest" alert....

But why did I start with all that? Well, crochet has rhythm.. calming when the social and sensory stressors on the bus are bothering me...I'm just counting stitches and making socks. Also, hey! I got a draw full of socks that meet my sensory needs, 'cos I made them. Lol

Do I care about fashion - no, but I got funky, not very fashionable socks I love, 'cos I made them.

But seriously guys, just what do we want clothing manufacturers to consider for the autistic consumer? What would your ideal clothing outlet offer?

Parents

  • Hi fellow yarn and fabric junkie! I will try not to derail this thread, maybe we should start one to discuss that in case there are others here?

    In answer to your question, I would want an ethical consideration. One reason I make my own is I have opted out of fast fashion for ethical reasons. I did go through a phase of buying from charity shops (waaay to much, in search of the ideal item which was rarely found. Ended up with a huge collection of nearly rights which I never wore and have either been redonated or gone into the refashion pile!)

    A lot of modern clothes expose too much skin, especially cleavage, while I prefer to cover up, sometimes from the sun (I hate the feel of suncream) or for modesty. And I dislike the gap you get between a top which is too short and low rise bottom half. I have other preferences which is why I make my own, like not snug armpits, not too tight elbows, easy to put on and off etc.

    Natural fibres are often nicer, but cotton does have environmental concerns as much as plastic fabric.

    I do not care about being fashionable, but comfortable and ethical. I like bright cheerful colours.

    Labels can be outside or the washing info can be printed inside. Some locations are less annoying than others.

    Not sure I'm entirely the target though as I said I don't tend to buy new clothes any more.

Reply

  • Hi fellow yarn and fabric junkie! I will try not to derail this thread, maybe we should start one to discuss that in case there are others here?

    In answer to your question, I would want an ethical consideration. One reason I make my own is I have opted out of fast fashion for ethical reasons. I did go through a phase of buying from charity shops (waaay to much, in search of the ideal item which was rarely found. Ended up with a huge collection of nearly rights which I never wore and have either been redonated or gone into the refashion pile!)

    A lot of modern clothes expose too much skin, especially cleavage, while I prefer to cover up, sometimes from the sun (I hate the feel of suncream) or for modesty. And I dislike the gap you get between a top which is too short and low rise bottom half. I have other preferences which is why I make my own, like not snug armpits, not too tight elbows, easy to put on and off etc.

    Natural fibres are often nicer, but cotton does have environmental concerns as much as plastic fabric.

    I do not care about being fashionable, but comfortable and ethical. I like bright cheerful colours.

    Labels can be outside or the washing info can be printed inside. Some locations are less annoying than others.

    Not sure I'm entirely the target though as I said I don't tend to buy new clothes any more.

Children
  • in reply to AuTriker

    Don't worry about the detail. I'm glad to meet a fellow yarn/fabric junkie. I kind of feel this why women get missed. It may not be buses or drain covers we are into, but we can get just as fixated.

    The environmental and social justice issues are just as important and this survey went into that too. I do the charity shop thing too. I only throw things if they are worn out. If it's just that they don't fit, I donate them. I shop there too, cos often the thing I want isn't in fashion and therefore not in the department store but might be lurking there forgotten by all.