CSU’s product development students host human-centered fashion show inclusive of all abilities

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The full product development class and the models/community members they worked with throughout the semester.

The students in Colorado State University’s Product Development Program in the Department of Design and Merchandising hosted their first fashion show this year, and it was unique in its human-centered inclusivity.  

The program, led by Associate Professor Kristen Morris and Graduate Teaching Assistant Morgan Davis, has a long history of challenging students to design for underserved target markets, especially those with varied abilities such as people who use wheelchairs, people with prosthetic limbs, and other disabilities that affect their dress. This teaching work has even received recognition from the International Textile and Apparel Association for innovation in textile instruction. 

While previous classes have hosted events showcasing the inclusive student design work, this is the first year the course has hosted a fashion show, titled “User 1st>>>Design Next.” Students worked with a specific person for the entirety of the semester, allowing them to not only solidify an in-depth understanding of the market’s needs through dedicated one-on-one feedback but also to address specific fit needs through model fittings and input from the wearer. 

2 male students look at a vest prototype up close
a large group of about 9 people stand in the hallway admiring the posters on exhibition
4 young women look at the poster exhibition at the Avenir museum as one of the models works his way down the hallway in his wheelchair
Ethan and his family sit in the audience watching the fashion show.

Models and participants 

The participants in the program devoted a large amount of time throughout the semester to activities like focus groups, student concept presentations, fittings, and finally participation in the fashion show. This year the participants and fashion show models were Jian Cohen, Jim Hess, Tracy Hickey, Rustin Hughes, James Waechter, Libby Waechter, and Connor Walsh. 

Cotton Technologies 

The course challenged students to exemplify the primacy of user-centric design and underscore inclusivity by catering to diverse abilities through cotton-rich design solutions.  They needed an in-depth understanding of cotton properties to use the textiles in innovative and meaningful ways. 

The event was sponsored in full through a competitive grant presented to the Department of Design and Merchandising from Cotton Incorporated. 

A woman with a prosthetic leg models a pair of capri pants and a tank as she walks down the runway with a large crowd taking photos
Libby moves down the runway in her wheelchair while wearing her custom designed wedding dress.
Connor moving down the runway in his wheelchair while modeling a coat created by one of the product development students
Rustin walking down the runway showcasing a pant and shirt set created by the product development students
James moves down the runway in his wheelchair showcasing a pant and shirt set created by product development students with fit adjustments for those seated.

Award winners 

Student projects were judged by a panel of experts in inclusive and accessible design. Thank you to this year’s judges: Ryan Perry (apparel and merchandising, ’22) (Obermeyer); Jennifer Lee (Cotton Incorporated); Rustin Hughes (participant and CEO of B-Bold Empowered Adaptive Living); Katie Waechter (participant and mother of James and Libby); Heath Olson (Tommy Hilfiger); Pixel Mikulich (apparel and merchandising, ’23) (Alexis Drake); and Ellie LaVia (apparel and merchandising, ’24),  who won an award for her work in last year’s class.  

Several students won awards this year. Congratulations to this year’s award recipients: 

Best Use of Cotton Performance Technology – Henry Hanes, WOVE Adaptive Bags, a line of mounted bags for wheelchair users. 

Best Use of Technology – Ethan Laborde for the Quick Release Run-it-Back Brand, a line of garments assisting with fine motor skills, dexterity, and mobility. 

First Place – Ingrid Stocco for Ophelia, a collection of mix-and-match wedding attire optimized for those using wheelchairs for mobility assistance.  

Second Place – Opal Koning for Unbound, a collection of workwear for those who use wheelchairs. 

Third Place – Leslie Rivera for her product line titled Compos Mentis, sensory reduction garments.

Henry Hanes holding his award and the bag prototype he created to go on the back of wheelchairs
Ethan Laborde holding his award with the community member he worked with all semester Jim
Henry and Ethan stand together holding their award certificates
Leslie Rivera holding her award
Ingrid Stocco holding her award standing next to Libby in a wedding dress designed especially for her as she is seated in her wheelchair

The Department of Design and Merchandising is part of CSU’s College of Health and Human Sciences. 

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Apparel and MerchandisingCollege of Health and Human SciencesDepartment of Design and MerchandisingDiversityDM DiversityDM FeatureDM ResearchFeature StoryStudents

Sara Dudek

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