‘Inclusive fashion is the next big thing’

A fashion student with a chronic pain condition has created a clothing line to help others with hidden disabilities.

University of Nottingham student Trent Tegan Cooke has fibromyalgia – a condition that can cause fatigue, insomnia and joint pain.

The 21-year-old player’s design refers to the concept of pressure therapy.

They incorporate gentle compression on the shoulders and knees, designed to provide relaxing pressure.

“The pressure helps secure the ‘click’ joint and keeps it from moving out of place and becoming uncomfortable,” says Ms Cooke, a third year BA Fashion Design student.

“It also comforts sore feet and makes clothes comfortable to wear.”

The hem of the garment is tied so that it is flat and smooth, minimizing severe skin sensitivity, a symptom Tegan says she often suffers from.

“Thick labels sewn into my clothes, or even loose threads that haven’t been cut can cause great irritation,” she says.

“For my collection, I consider a variety of different fabrics, ensuring they are soft and breathable, allowing for wearer comfort and the ability to regulate their body temperature, another symptom of the condition.”

The design features bead embroidery, adding a tactile feature that the wearer can rub on for therapeutic benefits.

They also included crystals, symbolically representing the diamond becoming stronger under pressure.

“Inclusive fashion is the next big thing, but I don’t think people with hidden disabilities are not yet being served by an accessible market,” said Ms Cooke.

“I wanted to make clothes that helped relieve people’s symptoms, but weren’t plain and boring.”

For her research, she spoke to other people with chronic pain conditions.

“It’s clear that a lot of people, of all ages, would benefit from this kind of design,” he said.

“There is a special niche for clothing that takes the chronically ill wearer into account, especially for young people who want something on-trend and vibrant.”

Emma Prince, Fashion Design course leader at Nottingham Trent University, said: “Tegan has taken her personal experience of hidden disability and created a line of clothing that truly benefits millions of other people.”