About
I am an adaptive apparel design researcher with a background in fashion design, athletic wear, and disability studies, available for research collaborations and consulting with fashion brands, designers, researchers, and community groups who are interested in expanding apparel inclusion practice. My work relies on a participatory approach to apparel design and athletic wear inclusion to understand clothing needs, values, and solutions from different perspectives and based on lived experiences. As a disabled design researcher, I have experienced first-hand the positive impact flexible, innovative, and informed methods and frameworks can have in this area of research!
Having choice in clothing that reflects oneself and supports one's needs in all areas of life, such as work and sport, can greatly benefit wellbeing and a sense of belonging. We can enhance apparel inclusion by exploring design ideation with various stakeholders, consumers, and multidisciplinary experts to better understand disability-inclusive apparel practice and find new ways to reach more people. Moreover, we can aim to amplify disability inclusion within the athletic wear market to support sports and fitness participation and visibility by directly engaging with different communities.
Services
Workshops and Training Sessions
While the last decade or so has seen an increase in adaptive fashion in the marketplace, along with a growing number of adaptive apparel research studies, there is an opportunity for much more in this emerging sector. If you would like to learn more about adaptive apparel history, design research, or inclusion principles, please let me know!
Workshops, talks, and training sessions are available for designers, research students, and brand leaders. These might cover topics like:
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Adaptive and inclusive apparel examples and design characteristics.
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Participatory design for adaptive apparel.
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Inclusive and disability-focused design philosophies and methods.
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Disability awareness (e.g. models of disability, psychosocial values for apparel inclusion).
Adaptive Apparel Practice Consultation
If you are looking to branch into adaptive apparel practice or would simply like to learn more, I would be happy to offer direction, contextual background research, or design research services to support your team.
Consulting services are available to fashion and athletic wear brands for support with:
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Research on adaptive apparel trends and practice.
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User research and frameworks for needs assessments.
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Technical garment illustration.
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Facilitation or collaboration with disability-focused consumer communities.
Research Collaboration
I am eager to connect with interdisciplinary researchers to further examine the intersections of apparel design, disability studies, psychology, and social theory. Adaptive apparel research holds tremendous value in going beyond just functional design to consider identity, self-representation, emotional wellbeing, and group belonging.
Design research or practice-focused collaborations are also very welcome.
If working in this area, contributions can include:
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Research framing and project planning.
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Community and multidisciplinary stakeholder outreach, ethical research practice.
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Interview or workshop data collection and thematic analysis.
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Data visualisation and research results write-ups.
Background and Philosophy
After studying fashion at the Parsons School of Design, I spent several years working as a garment technical designer for the adidas group, focusing on men's and women's training, performance, and fan apparel for adidas and Reebok. Relocating overseas, I completed an MA and PhD in fashion design management and adaptive apparel practice at the London College of Fashion, University of the Arts London. My dissertation work involved the development of a framework and design toolkit for disability inclusion in athletic wear design and commercial apparel practice. Currently living outside of London and working primarily in a virtual capacity, I have connected with collaborators across the United Kingdom and the United States.
Crucial to my approach are practice-informed and disability studies underpinnings, which serve to balance user-led and community needs with apparel design practice. For much of my work, a participatory design framework and the social model of disability have been applied to understand garment needs from first-hand perspectives and experiential knowledge. When engaging with research communities and working within an inclusive design mindset, I appreciate an exploratory and active listening approach. Valuing participant comfort, flexibility in participation, and researcher reflexivity goes a long way in supporting informed, impactful, and thoughtful research experiences and outcomes.
I am grateful to have met and worked with designers, researchers, and collaborators from a range of backgrounds -- new product development, adaptive apparel, fashion psychology and sociology, inclusive and accessible design, and adaptive sports -- to explore comprehensive, nuanced needs for apparel inclusion. Growing this critical and innovative area of design research takes on-going collaboration and creativity, and there is both a timely need and opportunity to expand adaptive apparel practice and knowledge. If you would like to discuss the possibilities of working together or learn more about adaptive or inclusive apparel, it would be great to hear from you!
Qualifications
Please visit LinkedIn: JennPoage for more details.
PhD Disability Inclusion in Athletic Wear Practice, London College of Fashion, University of the Arts London, London, UK, 2017-2023
MA Fashion Design Management, London College of Fashion, University of the Arts London, London, UK, 2015-2016, Graduated with Distinction
AAS Fashion Studies, Parsons School of Design, New York, NY, USA, 2005, Graduated with Honours
BA Art History, Drew University, Madison, NJ, USA, 1997-2001, Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa, National Math Honours Society, Honours in Art History for Senior Thesis
Experience:
Independent Researcher and Writer, UK, 2023-present
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Collaborated on a chapter that examined the intersection of disability, fashion design, psychological wellbeing, and the self, with co-authors from the University of the Arts London
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Collaborated on an integrative review that extended the Body Dressing Work framework based on interdisciplinary clothing inclusion research, with a co-author from the Manchester Metropolitan University
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Wrote original practice-informed research articles on: consumer needs for adaptive athletic wear, an integrative review of fashion and disability inclusion practice to inform adaptive and inclusive athletic wear design, and user and multidisciplinary stakeholder community mapping for collaborative athletic wear inclusion
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Peer reviewed manuscripts for the Fashion Practice journal
PhD Researcher, London College of Fashion, University of the Arts London, UK, 2017-2023
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Planned and executed an original research project that aimed to develop a toolkit for adaptive and inclusive athletic wear design, an emerging and underexplored area of study and practice
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Engaged community research participants to explore athletic wear needs, values for inclusion, and solutions ideation from multiple perspectives
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Conducted multimethods primary research: virtual semi-structured interviews, ideation workshops, and feedback sessions, along with thematic analyses and data visualisations
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Applied the social model of disability as a lens to understand and deconstruct social, industry, and garment-related barriers to athletic wear inclusion
Independent Researcher and Writer, USA, 2014-2015
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Adapted and presented design processes and theory for a business audience
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Conducted expert interviews, brainstormed content with co-author, wrote content, and designed book marketing material
Athletic Wear Technical Designer, adidas/Reebok, USA, 2007-2013
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Translated garment design sketches into technical flats with construction and logo detailing for pro-sport leagues: NFL, NHL, NBA, WNBA, NCAA
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Advised on construction techniques, logo applications, trim selection, and cutline measurements for team uniforms, performance wear, and fan apparel
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Researched and outlined new technologies, materials, and constructions for high-performance garment innovation
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Reviewed and advised on construction and garment make during fit sessions, revised tech packs to reflect revised iterations
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Trained and mentored new hires and guided designers on internal processes and calendar deadlines
Design Assistant, Briggs NY, USA, 2006
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Sketched flats and analyzed construction for cost savings, produced apparel style boards showing multiple colorways, and conducted trend research
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Attended fit sessions, trend reports, and vendor meetings
Publications:
Poage, J., Khadaroo, A. & Kapsali, V. (2026) ‘Disability and Fashion Inclusion: Exploring Barriers, Needs, and Practice in Relation to the Self and Well-being‘, In Çili, S., Bardey, A., & Khadaroo, A. (Eds.) Applied Psychology in Fashion: A Research-Informed Approach (pp. 93-115). Palgrave Macmillan.
Kealy-Morris, E., & Poage, J. (2025). Body Dressing Work: A narrative review of the use of apparel as camouflage by people with disabilities to enable belonging and inclusion. International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings, 81(1). https://doi.org/10.31274/itaa.18502.
Poage, J. (2025). Athletic Wear Design and Disability: Exploring Needs and Values of Consumers with a Self-Described Upper Limb Impairment or Difference. Fashion Practice, 17(3), 361–384. https://doi.org/10.1080/17569370.2025.2515865
Brown, E. L., Cili, S., Cornell, N., Dewey, C., Gooding, J., Kealy-Morris, E., ... & Poage, J. (2024). In Conversation: Fashioning Inclusivity: integrating style, fit and adaptability. Fashion, Style and Popular Culture, 11(1), 153-154.
Poage, J. (2022). Developing a toolkit for disability inclusion in sportswear design practice: Focusing on consumers with an upper limb impairment or difference (Publication No. 20670) [Doctoral dissertation, University of the Arts London]. UAL Research Online. ps://ualresearchonline.arts.ac.uk/id/eprint/20670
Poage, J., Kapsali, V., & Bardey, A. (2020). An inclusive approach to sportswear (athletic wear) for people with upper limb impairments. Proceedings of the 22nd dmi: Academic design management conference: Impact the future by design (pp. 388-400). Design Management Institute.
Conferences and Guest Lectures:
Developing a Toolkit for Disability Inclusion in Sportswear Design Practice. [Guest lecture]. Open Style Lab Summer Program, July 2025. Open Style Lab, London, UK.
Exploring Needs and Values for Athletic Wear Inclusion: Focusing on Consumers with a Self-Described Upper Limb Impairment or Difference. [Conference presentation]. Applied Psychology in Fashion Conference, April 2024. University of the Arts London, Virtual.
A Participatory Design Approach to Sportswear for People with Upper Limb Impairment. [Guest lecture]. MA Fashion Futures course, 2020. University of the Arts London, Virtual.
Applying Collaborative Practices to Design Sportswear for People with Upper Limb Impairment. [Conference presentation]. Fashioning Inclusivity Symposium. 2019. University of the Arts London, London, UK.
Disability Studies within the Fashion Industry. [Guest lecture]. BA Fashion Psychology course, year 2. 2018. University of the Arts London, London, UK.
Integrating Design Process and Biomechanics for Functional Apparel. Disability Innovation Summit. [Conference presentation]. July 13-14, 2017. Global Disability Innovation Hub, London, UK.
Contact
Please fill out the inquiry form, and I will get back to you shortly.
You can also reach me via
Email: jp@jenniferpoage.com, or
LinkedIn: JennPoage
I look forward to hearing from you!