Apparel Online India Magazine October 1st Issue 2018 | Page 17

SUSTAINABILITY
IZ Adaptive relaunches with expanded inclusive
fashion collection for the specially-abled
Founded by celebrated Canadian
fashion designer and pioneer of
adaptive fashion, Izzy Camilleri,
IZ Adaptive, has announced the
release of its latest expanded
adaptive fashion collection. Since
closing the doors to customers
at the end of 2016, IZ Adaptive
(formerly known as IZ Collection),
now has a refreshed business
model. Specially designed for
adults with physical disabilities, the
ready-to-wear apparel brand, now
features a broader product offering,
more accessible price points, and
a new wholesale component – all
contributing to an increased global
reach. At a time when inclusivity is
at the centre of conversation in the
fashion industry, Camilleri’s new IZ
Adaptive line will feature wardrobe
basics for people with disabilities,
which include both wheelchair and
ambulatory users. The 55-piece
collection will include tees,
denim and jackets across men’s,
women’s and un-gender categories.
Functional design elements such
as magnetic closures, pull tabs on
zippers and pants, elastic waist
bands and open back tops have
been incorporated to make the
activity of getting dressed easier
for people with disabilities, while
bringing more independence to
them. The collection is priced from
US $ 25 for a T-shirt to US $ 425
for a men’s suit. In the past two
years, inclusive design has gained
mainstream interest as brands
such as Tommy Hilfiger, Target,
Nike and Under Armour embrace
adaptive collections within their
formats. Leading retailers such as
Zappos and Macy’s will be among
the first to add the IZ Adaptive
range to their portfolio of adaptive
clothes and shoes. “Macy’s has
a long-standing and respected
history of support for diversity, and
inclusiveness is a core tenet of our
company philosophy,” Kristyn Doar-
Page, VP of Diversity and Inclusion
at Macy’s, said in a release.
Los Angeles bans fur sales; becomes largest
US city to go fur-free
With the joint efforts led by
members of City Council Paul
Koretz, Bob Blumenfield, and
Mitch O’Farrell, Los Angeles has
announced a citywide ban on the
sale of fur. The decision, that deems
LA as the biggest city in the United
States to go fur-free, was a result of
a unanimous vote conducted by the
Los Angeles City Council, recently.
It is just a signature away from Los
Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer
to get legalised in this reg ard.
“There is no specific timetable at
this point,” a spokesman in Feuer’s
office confirmed. In a statement,
Councilman Koretz said, “We are
excited to bring to an end a cruel
and inhumane practice. LA has
been a leader on humane issues
and this is a great next step in
that arena. We appreciate Council
Members Bob Blumenfield and
Marc Ching and his Animal Hope
& Wellness Organization, for their
leadership on this issue. We think
we’ve also been as reasonable as
possible by accommodating the fur
industry allowing the fur retailers
to phase out their inventory. We are
delighted by those in the fashion
industry that are getting out in
front for this including Michael
Kors, Jimmy Choo, Versace, Gucci
and Burberry that have made
commitments to remove fur from
their line of products. We hope
that by being the largest city in
the US to ban fur, we will help set
a tone for the rest of the country
to join in.” This year saw the ban
on fur sales being carried out in
San Francisco and other California
cities including West Hollywood
and Berkeley. PETA applauded
the event and shared images of
supporters holding ‘#Fur Free LA’
and ‘Fur Is Dead’ signs outside the
Los Angeles City Hall. It was also
supported by celebrities like Maggie
Q, Alicia Silverstone and Mena
Suvari. Executive Vice President
of PETA commented by the means
of an email that stated, “PETA is
popping the Champagne corks
today after the Los Angeles City
Council – led by Council Members
Paul Koretz, Bob Blumenfield
and Mitch O’Farrell – voted to
ban the manufacturing and sale
of fur, thereby sparing countless
animals the horror of being beaten,
electrocuted, and skinned alive for
environmentally toxic products
that kind shoppers don’t want and
top designers won’t use. When Los
Angeles speaks, the world listens,
and it’s now the largest and most
notable city to tell the world that
fur is dead.”
www.apparelresources.com | OCTOBER 1-15, 2018 | Apparel Online India
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