FEL and Open Style Lab Champion Inclusive Fashion Education Through New Collaborative Programme

Creating a truly inclusive fashion industry starts in the classroom. Recognising this, Fashion-Enter Ltd (FEL) and the Fashion Technology Academy (FTA) have partnered with disability-led charity Open Style Lab (OSL) to deliver a seven-week programme that places adaptive design and inclusive learning at the heart of fashion education.

Launched on 18th July at FEL’s Haringey headquarters, the Saturday programme brings together 22 participants to learn the fundamentals of garment design, pattern cutting, draping and construction while exploring how clothing can better meet the needs of people with diverse abilities.

Rather than treating adaptive fashion as a niche discipline, the programme encourages participants to consider accessibility as an integral part of the design process from the very beginning. Through collaborative workshops, learners are challenged to think differently about functionality, fit and user experience, developing garments that are both practical and stylish.

The opening session focused on creative brainstorming, with participants sharing ideas and discussing how their concepts could be translated into wearable designs using professional pattern-cutting and draping techniques. Delivered in a supportive and collaborative environment, the workshops are designed to ensure every participant can contribute, learn and develop confidence in their technical abilities.

Technical guidance throughout the programme is provided by FTA educator John Herrera, who is supporting learners as they progress from initial concepts to completed adaptable garments. By the end of the seven weeks, participants will have designed, developed and produced their own adaptive pieces while gaining valuable industry skills and a deeper understanding of inclusive product development.

The collaboration reflects a shared ambition to make inclusive design a core component of fashion education rather than an afterthought. By embedding adaptive thinking into practical garment-making, participants gain experience that responds to the growing demand for designers who understand accessibility, diversity and user-centred design.

Open Style Lab is a disability-led, Smithsonian Design Award-winning charity dedicated to making style accessible through the combination of design, technology and education. Founded at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2014 before expanding through Parsons School of Design and into the UK in 2025, the organisation works alongside disabled experts, designers, engineers, occupational therapists and healthcare professionals to co-create innovative solutions that challenge traditional approaches to fashion.

Alongside developing adaptive products, Open Style Lab is committed to nurturing disabled leadership and ensuring both disabled and non-disabled designers have the skills, confidence and lived understanding needed to shape a more inclusive industry.

By working together, FEL, the FTA and Open Style Lab are demonstrating how education can drive meaningful change. Through adaptive teaching, collaborative learning and practical skills development, the programme is equipping the next generation of designers to create fashion that is accessible, representative and designed for everyone.