Fashion is constantly evolving, but who gets to influence its direction? Across runways, design studios and beauty counters, new ideas are challenging conventions and expanding what fashion can offer. This edition of The Style Cabinet explores that evolution, from adaptive collections making their way into mainstream retail and inclusive fashion taking the spotlight on international runways to beauty innovations, emerging designers and creative collaborations bringing fresh perspectives to the industry. Together, these developments offer a glimpse of a fashion landscape where personal expression, thoughtful design and individual choice are becoming increasingly important.

THE FRONT ROW

Adaptive Fashion Takes Centre Stage at New York Fashion Week

Runway of Dreams celebrated inclusive fashion at New York Fashion Week on September 14, 2026, bringing together major fashion brands, models with disabilities and emerging adaptive designers. Featuring collections from adidas, Tommy Hilfiger, Victoria’s Secret and others, the show highlighted advances in accessible clothing and universal design. The evening also recognized adidas for its commitment to accessibility and Wicked actress Marissa Bode for her contributions to disability representation, reinforcing the growing influence of adaptive fashion within the mainstream industry.

FASHION BRIEF

ASOS Launches Its First Adaptive Fashion Collection

ASOS has introduced its first adaptive fashion collection, developed in partnership with accessibility consultancy Tilting the Lens and co-created with disabled consumers. Launched globally on September 24, the 51-option range includes womenswear, menswear and curve styles, bringing adaptive features to contemporary tailoring, occasionwear and everyday clothing. The collection incorporates magnetic fastenings, concealed zips, discreet openings for medical tubing and adjusted proportions for seated wearers. With prices ranging from £32 to £65, the launch places fashion-led adaptive clothing within one of the world's best-known online fashion destinations, offering shoppers more opportunities to find clothing that reflects their personal style and practical needs.

A New Adaptive Fashion Initiative Launches in Nigeria

Nigerian organisations Misty Glam Company and Kush Atelier have launched IncluNorm Fashion, an initiative developing adaptive clothing for wheelchair users, amputees, people with limb differences and people with limited hand mobility. The project combines adaptive design with African fabrics and circular fashion, using donated fabric offcuts, surplus textiles and unused trims. 

BEAUTY WATCH

Lucy Edwards prepares to launch accessible beauty brand Etia

Disability activist, author and blind beauty creator, Lucy Edwards is preparing to launch Etia, an accessible beauty brand designed around disabled consumers. Its first product, Vision Mascara, is planned for October 2026. The brand is developing tactile packaging, Braille, NaviLens codes and other features intended to make beauty products easier to identify and use independently. 

New app helps blind and partially sighted people apply makeup
Check My Look, created by designer Hanming Xu, won the 2026 Helen Hamlyn Design Award. The app uses computer vision and voice guidance to help blind and partially sighted people apply makeup independently and recreate their own preferred looks. It was developed through interviews, co-design and prototype testing with blind and partially sighted users. 

DESIGN SPOTLIGHT

What happens when fashion design brings together different perspectives, abilities and creative disciplines? That question was at the heart of Open Style Lab's 2026 Design Impact Fellowship, a 10-week programme in London that united disabled and non-disabled designers, engineers, visual storytellers and occupational therapists. Working under the theme "Dress Codes", participants explored how fashion could become more inclusive and responsive to different bodies and abilities. Their work was exhibited at the Royal College of Art in September.

Fashion came alive through more than sight at Chet Lo's Autumn/Winter 2026 Night Market show during London Fashion Week. In collaboration with Hair & Care's Making Fashion Accessible initiative, the designer welcomed blind and low-vision guests to experience his collection through live audio description and an intimate studio Touch Tour. Guests explored fabrics, examined garment details and discovered the textures of Lo's signature sculptural knitwear before experiencing the runway with specially timed audio narration. Inspired by the bustling night markets of Hong Kong, the collection featured dramatic silhouettes, spiked knitwear and rich colours. The collaboration offered a different perspective on the fashion show, demonstrating how thoughtful accessibility can invite more people to experience the creativity and excitement of the runway.

What if fashion could be experienced beyond what we see? Kenyan designer Angela Wanjiku is exploring that possibility through Hisi Studio, an adaptive fashion brand founded in 2019 that brings touch, sound and Braille into clothing design. Inspired by conversations with blind students in Kenya, Wanjiku creates garments featuring raised textures, Braille inscriptions and QR codes that provide spoken information about colours, fabrics and care instructions. Her latest collection, Likiwaka Liote, features denim vests decorated with metal rings that create sound as the wearer moves. With designs that celebrate African identity and sensory expression, Hisi Studio challenges the idea that fashion is primarily a visual experience, opening new possibilities for how clothing can be understood, appreciated and enjoyed.

STYLE IN TRANSIT
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Runway Roundup

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ELITE Clothing Solutions at Africa Fashion Week

Fedcap's UK-based ELITE Clothing Solutions, a social enterprise manufacturing adaptive clothing, produced bespoke trousers for Cardiff-based designer Adeola's debut at Africa Fashion Week London. It marks the first time ELITE's work has appeared on an international fashion runway. 
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Inclusive Fashion Takes the Runway at London's Front Row 2026

Front Row 2026 brought adaptive design, sustainable fashion and inclusive style to London's Battersea Arts Centre on September 24. Three catwalk shows featured collections from Intotum, Unhidden, May Marigold and Recondition, alongside pre-loved luxury fashion from Designer Exchange. The runway welcomed models with spinal cord injuries, including wheelchair users, and actor George Robinson. Presented in support of Back Up, the event also raised funds for the charity's wheelchair skills training, mentoring and career development programs.
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THE ART OF FRAGRANCE
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