Cebuano designer Venise Galan believes that women with disabilities deserve clothing that is both comfortable, well-fitted, and stylish. While strides have been made towards inclusivity in fashion, people with disabilities remain significantly underrepresented. Galan, a 22-year-old fashion designer and product design graduate, recognized this gap and dedicated herself to finding a solution. Over the past year, she has focused on creating pieces that empower Filipina women with physical disabilities through adaptive clothing designs.
Her research revealed a stark reality: modern clothing is primarily designed for able-bodied individuals, leaving those with disabilities and physical limitations excluded. The community faces challenges such as a lack of accessibility features, limited clothing options, and physical inaccessibility in stores. Beyond the lack of tailored garments, PWDs also struggle with a scarcity of stylish options, hindering their ability to fully participate in social events and daily activities.
“Growing up where fashion has been my playground, I always envisioned a future where size, race, gender, and physical ability are no limitations of style,” Galan reflects. In 2022, she brought this vision to life by launching her label, Miss Bota. “Leaning on design exploration, Miss Bota embodies my vision of breaking barriers, being authentic, and doing purposeful work,” the designer explains.
Galan experiments with a diverse range of materials, such as denim, lenticular sheets, stuffed toys, and sublimated photos on fabrics, exploring new possibilities. As she pursued this new project, she prioritized resources that are convenient and practical, especially for individuals with special physiological needs. For the young designer, understanding and embracing inclusivity is essential to creating clothing solutions that resonate with the diverse identities within the community.
As she embarked on developing her first collection of adaptive clothing for PWDs called CLUB-ING, Galan sought insights from various organizations, including the Department of Social Welfare and Services Cebu, Drawing Class Foundation, and Philippine Accessible Disability Services (PADS) Inc., to ensure her designs were informed and impactful. In partnership with Drawing Class Foundation, an art organization founded by a PWD artist, Galan hosted a creative session for various persons with disabilities. The artistic output from this session became the cornerstone of her designs.
“What stood out to me was our ability to foster connections and creativity through art. Most of their drawings were inspired by their homes and childhood experiences,” Galan recalls. She then collaborated with the Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS) in Cebu for user testing sessions. “They were incredibly accepting and provided very constructive insights for my adaptive designs,” she notes. These collaborative efforts helped Galan refine her collection to better meet the needs of the PWD community.
Galan also collaborated with local garment makers to select the textiles for her collection, receiving recommendations for natural fibers like cotton and linen to ensure the wearers’ comfort. The resulting collection features pieces designed to accommodate a range of needs and physical limitations. These include removable sleeves for individuals with upper body impairments, magnetic and Velcro fastenings for easy dressing, expandable waistbands, and external clothing tags to prevent skin irritation.
One standout piece, the Ghorling Set 3, is a dress with an asymmetrical cut, specifically designed for people with scoliosis or lower body amputations. Through her journey, Galan not only redefined her approach to design but also illuminated the profound impact that fashion can have when it embraces inclusivity.
The designer says that the entire process of creating the collection was an eye-opening experience. “I realized design held so much power. My goal was to make my study relevant to my peers and to bring awareness about the PWD community,” she says. Galan notes that while empowerment has always been a central characteristic of her designs, working with the PWD community gave her vision a clearer direction.
“My priorities in design really shifted,” the designer reflects. “Instead of just challenging the status quo, I’m designing to foster inclusivity. I understood that design was not just about breaking barriers, it was also about building bridges.”
