Three years ago, during the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics opening ceremonies, Team Canada athletes sported stylish white jeans. However, for some Paralympians like Alison Levine, these jeans were challenging. As a boccia athlete in a wheelchair, Levine found jeans uncomfortable and impractical due to the lack of an elastic waistband and difficulty in putting them on and taking them off. She had to find her own suitable attire that wouldn’t make her stand out from the team.
This year, at the Paralympics opening ceremony in Paris, Levine and her teammates wore bright red jackets with features like magnetic closures for convenience for all, whether disabled or not. They also had the option of wearing a seated carpenter pant, specifically designed with Levine in mind and even named the “Alison pant.” This shift represents a significant step forward in adaptive and inclusive fashion as apparel companies like Lululemon are beginning to cater to the needs of disabled individuals.
Levine, who has a degenerative neuromuscular disorder, emphasizes the importance of looking good and feeling included regardless of disability. She acknowledges the privilege she and her Canadian teammates have in having a major apparel company design their outfits, recognizing that not all athletes have this luxury. Lululemon’s creative director for Team Canada, Audrey Reilly, highlights the importance of unity and inclusivity among athletes.
Adaptive fashion is gaining momentum in the Olympics, as seen in the designs by Lululemon for Team Canada and Nike for Team USA, incorporating models in wheelchairs or with prosthetics. Mindy Scheier, a long-time advocate for better clothing options for the disabled, notes the increasing visibility of adaptive fashion in the Olympics, attributing it to brands recognizing the business opportunity and shifting paradigms.
Jessica Long, a successful para swimmer for Team USA, shares the challenges she faced in finding suitable shoes and clothing as a double amputee. She appreciates the efforts by the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee and sponsor Ralph Lauren in surveying para athletes to improve their attire and mobility. Long emphasizes the significance of these small adjustments in enhancing the experience for para athletes and looks forward to dressing up for the Paralympics.
