AND SPEAKING OF IOWA STATE, THE GROUP OF IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IS HELPING COMBINE FUNCTION WITH FASHION, THE APPAREL, MERCHANDIZING AND DESIGN PROGRAM PARTNERED WITH THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR THE BRAIN TO CREATE OUTFITS FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES. EACH STUDENT WAS CONNECTED WITH A FAMILY WITH THEIR MODELS, MEDICAL COMFORT, AND STYLE IN MIND. THEY TURNED EXISTING CLOTHING INTO ADAPTIVE APPAREL LIKE THIS SKIRT WORN BY TEN YEAR OLD CIELO, WHO USES A WHEELCHAIR AND FEEDING TUBE. THE SKIRT HAS A MAGNETIC STRIP, MAKING IT EASIER TO ACCESS THE TUBE OR THIS BRAIDED CORD CREATED USING 3D PRINTERS. IT ALLOWS THE PERSON WEARING IT TO ADJUST THE SIZE, WHICH CAN HELP MAKE THE OUTFIT SENSORY FRIENDLY WHILE OFFERING MORE FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT. THESE DESIGNS WERE FEATURED DURING THE I CAN DO ANYTHING FASHION SHOW DURING NEW YORK FASHION WEEK IN SEPTEMBER. ONE STUDENT SAYS WHAT MADE HER THE HAPPIEST WAS SEEING
Iowa State University students create customized adaptable clothing for kids with disabilities
Each student was paired with a family and designed outfits for their individual models, taking into account their medical, comfort and style needs.
Updated: 10:38 PM CDT Nov 1, 2025
A group of Iowa State University students is helping combine function with fashion, placing smiles on children’s faces while doing so. The apparel, merchandising, and design program partnered with the International Institute for the Brain, also known as iBRAIN, to create adaptive outfits for children with brain-based disabilities. iBRAIN is an organization focused on researching, developing, and implementing specialized education that’s specifically tailored to students with brain injuries and brain-based disorders. The ISU students partnered with the organization to make custom outfits for the kids and young adults during iBRAIN’s annual “iCan Do Anything” fashion show. The show focuses on the organization’s students–which include children and young adults–who are models, collaborators, and stars of the show that took place in September as part of New York Fashion Week. Each ISU student was connected with a family. They designed outfits for their individual models, taking into account their medical, comfort, and style needs and turning existing clothing into adaptive apparel. An example includes a skirt worn by a 10-year-old who uses a wheelchair and a feeding tube. The skirt has a magnetic strip, which makes the tube more accessible. Another design was a braided cord, which was created using a 3D printer. It allows the person wearing it to adjust the size, making the outfit more sensory-friendly and offering more freedom of movement.
A group of Iowa State University students is helping combine function with fashion, placing smiles on children’s faces while doing so.
The apparel, merchandising, and design program partnered with the International Institute for the Brain, also known as iBRAIN, to create adaptive outfits for children with brain-based disabilities. iBRAIN is an organization focused on researching, developing, and implementing specialized education that’s specifically tailored to students with brain injuries and brain-based disorders.
The ISU students partnered with the organization to make custom outfits for the kids and young adults during iBRAIN’s annual “iCan Do Anything” fashion show. The show focuses on the organization’s students–which include children and young adults–who are models, collaborators, and stars of the show that took place in September as part of New York Fashion Week.
Each ISU student was connected with a family. They designed outfits for their individual models, taking into account their medical, comfort, and style needs and turning existing clothing into adaptive apparel.
An example includes a skirt worn by a 10-year-old who uses a wheelchair and a feeding tube. The skirt has a magnetic strip, which makes the tube more accessible.
Another design was a braided cord, which was created using a 3D printer. It allows the person wearing it to adjust the size, making the outfit more sensory-friendly and offering more freedom of movement.
