Written by The Make-a-thek Community Call on May 14, 2025, brought together experts and practitioners to discuss inclusive fashion and assistive technology. The session featured presentations from Sema Gedik, founder of Auf Augenhoehe, and Saad Chinoy, a maker and advocate for accessible design. Their work highlights the intersection of sustainability, inclusion, and innovation.
Sema shared her journey, which began during her fashion design studies. She emphasised the distinction between adaptive and inclusive design, noting that adaptive design caters to specific body types while inclusive design aims for universal accessibility. Her research involved measuring diverse body types worldwide to develop a new sizing system. This work challenges the normative standards of the fashion industry, which have remained unchanged for decades. She is also keen to open-source some of her designs.
The discussion also addressed major fashion brands’ slow adoption of inclusive practices. While companies like Uniqlo have shown interest, progress remains limited. Sema pointed out that technological advancements, such as 3D printing and digitalisation, could revolutionise production but are underutilised. The industry’s reliance on outdated systems hinders the scalability of inclusive and sustainable fashion solutions.
Saad presented SalvageGarden work at a makerspace in Singapore’s Pompeo Regional Library, focusing on assistive technology. The space provides tools like 3D printers and sewing machines, enabling the creation of customised devices for people with disabilities. Saad highlighted the high cost of assistive tools in the market and how maker culture can democratise access. The Pompeo Library’s makerspace fosters co-creation and practical solutions by involving caregivers and users in the design process. The makerspace operates on a volunteer basis, with activities held every Sunday. This model ensures sustainability while avoiding burnout among participants. Saad explained that the space is designed to be accessible, accommodating both visible and invisible disabilities. The open-ended nature of the projects allows for flexibility, with each session tailored to the needs of the participants.
A key theme of the call was the importance of community-driven design. Both Sema and Saad stressed that solutions must be rooted in the actual needs of the users rather than assumptions. For Sema, this meant shifting from designing for aesthetics to addressing real-world challenges. For Saad, it involved empowering users to create their own devices, fostering independence and personal expression. The session also touched on the potential for collaboration between the fashion and technology sectors and demonstrated how interdisciplinary approaches can bridge gaps in accessibility and sustainability. However, both speakers acknowledged the challenges of scaling these solutions within existing industry frameworks.
The Make-a-thek Community Call underscored the need for systemic change in the fashion and technology sectors. By prioritising inclusion and sustainability, these fields can move toward more equitable and innovative practices. The next session, scheduled for mid-June, will explore heritage craft and circular design, further expanding the conversation.
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Here’s a list of all the links from the call:
