Trying ASOS’s New Adaptive Clothing Range

ASOS has just launched its first adaptive range, so obviously I had to give it a try. I spoke at ASOS first Disability Pride Event 2 years ago & I knew adaptive pieces were in the works back then so I was really excited to see adaptive fashion reaching this major online retailer, especially pieces that feel fashionable rather than just basics. After trying everything on, I think there are some clever ideas here but definitely areas where the designs could go further. We have 5 pieces from the collection to try (ad-gifted) First up, the brown suit. The trousers have pull loops and a zip at the lower leg which gives access up to around the calf, potentially useful for prosthetics. They’re really comfortable and sit nicely when seated, although as a wheelchair user I wish the pockets were more secure because things can easily fall out of standard side pockets. The cropped jacket was probably one of my favourites. It has a magnetic opening, shoulder pads and shorter sleeves, which are much easier when self-propelling a wheelchair. The matching waistcoat has elasticated sides, magnetic buttons that look like standard buttons, and an opening that could provide access for tubes or medical devices. I love the idea, although the magnetic fastening didn’t work particularly well for my bigger chest even in my usual size. Then I tried the dresses. I LOVE seeing sparkle, patterns and different fabrics appearing in adaptive collections. Both dresses have features designed with medical devices in mind, including tube access in both and a hidden pocket in the waist of the blue dress. But neither was noticeably easier for me to actually get on and off than a non-adaptive dress, which feels like a missed opportunity. Overall, I’m genuinely really pleased to see a major brand investing in adaptive fashion. There are some great ideas in this collection, but I’d love to see future pieces take accessibility even further, particularly around independent dressing and the nee