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Paralympic athlete releases new, wheelchair-friendly ASOS clothing line
Paralympic athlete Chloe Ball-Hopkins, together with British fashion retailer ASOS, has created a jumpsuit for people in wheelchairs – and everyone else.
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Paralympic athlete Chloe Ball-Hopkins is pictured here in a jumpsuit she designed with British fashion retailer ASOS for a new clothing line that was created with wheelchair users in mind. (Twitter/chloe_ballhopzy)
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ritish fashion retailer ASOS has begun selling a new line of clothing that has been designed specifically with wheelchair users in mind.
The first piece in the line is a waterproof tie-dye jumpsuit that costs £50 (Rp 950,000). ASOS came together with athlete Chloe Ball-Hopkins to design the jumpsuit, which features an adjustable hood, a longer hem at the back, and soft jersey lining on the inside.
“So over the last several months I have been working with @ASOS to create a fashionable, yet practical waterproof all in one! Not just for people like me in a chair but for anyone. It's about making fashion accessible! So what should be next?!” the Team GB Paralympic athlete and BBC Bristol Sport reporter tweeted about her collaboration with the retailer.
So over the last several months I have been working with @ASOS to create a fashionable, yet practical waterproof all in one! Not just for people like me in a chair but for anyone. It's about making fashion accessible! So what should be next?! https://t.co/1gzzkRlED9 pic.twitter.com/7yS57QEmpD
— Chloe Ball-Hopkins (@chloe_ballhopzy) July 4, 2018
The announcement has been met with praise from the internet, with many commenting that ASOS was being more considerate of people with disabilities.
Read also: Google Maps adds ‘wheelchair accessible’ option in routes
“Shopping is something most of us take for granted in terms of representation,” tweeted user Gurls Talk. “Seeing disabled people in the media through campaigns, as actors, singers is so important as it challenges the stigma around disabilities.”
Great to see this sort of representation on the @ASOS website. Shopping is something most of us take for granted in terms of representation. Seeing disabled people in the media through campaigns, as actors, singers is so important as it challenges the stigma around disabilities. pic.twitter.com/asQAprWFxS
— Gurls Talk (@gurlstalk) July 4, 2018
ASOS has been praised before for its commitment to diversity, as it has featured unedited photos of models on the site and displayed the same clothes on people of different sizes, regardless of body type.
It also earned praise from the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) in mid-June for "leading the charge for compassion in fashion" (http://www.thejakartapost.com/life/2018/06/19/fashion-retailer-asos-bans-silk-cashmere-mohair.html).
Sophie Bradbury-Cox, a fashion blogger who has spinal muscular atrophy type three, tweeted: “This is so awesome @ASOS! Everything I’m fighting for!! #disabledfashion”.
This is so awesome @ASOS! Everything I’m fighting for!! #disabledfashion https://t.co/vtkzCJlhU2
— Sophie Bradbury-Cox (@fashionbellee) July 4, 2018
The Independent quoted Bradbury-Cox as saying, “I started my Instagram account because I wanted to show other disabled people that you can be sitting in a wheelchair and still have your own sense of style.” (sul/mut)
