About Me
Hi I'm Sharlene, a graduate of the University of Portsmouth
Sharlene was inspired by her children, but understood the awareness around sensory processing disorders was very limited. Through a lot of research and her personal experiences she captured the tactile sense of sensory processing disorder.
I really want to create awareness of SPD as well as inspire other designers to make little changes, especially around tags and seams when creating fun and functional kidswear.
INSPIRATION
Inspired by my children who have sensory processing disorder as part of being in the autism spectrum
From my own family experience and after speaking with many other parents, I decided to create a collection for the needs of children with Sensory Processing Disorder. In garments, aspects like seams can be an overwhelming factor for sensory ‘avoiders’. While chewing on sleeves, collars, cuffs and buttons is seen as a ‘seeking’ behaviour.
This collection clashes the seeking and avoiding behaviours together. I aimed to create awareness as well as incorporating novel sensory experiences into the collection itself. This includes food safe silicone chewable buttons, and squishy mesh ball sleeves as well as textile prints inspired by neural paths and connections.
MY WORK
PORTFOLIOS
Photography Issie Treacher
Photography Issie Treacher
Photography Issie Treacher
Photography Issie Treacher
Photography Issie Treacher
Photography Issie Treacher
Photography Issie Treacher
Photography Issie Treacher
Photography Issie Treacher
Photography Issie Treacher
Photography Issie Treacher
Photography Issie Treacher
Photography Issie Treacher
Photography Issie Treacher
DETAIL
Materials used for sensory avoidance behaviours need to be soft and flexible
I wanted to capture both the avoidance and seeking behaviours of Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). I included weighted sleeves, fidget laces, squishy mesh balls and chewable buttons for sensory seeking tools. I also used open ended zips on the sleeves to make these garments versatile and adaptive. Seams are moved to the outside and are concealed or bound. This is important as parents of children with SPD understand that needs can and do change quickly and garments need to respond to the child's needs.
The platform fashion and textiles have is huge and can create amazing changes!
Graduate Fashion Week in partnership with:
