Building India’s Inclusive Fashion Future: A Review of Adaptive Apparel Market Potential and Challenges

Adaptive apparel, designed to meet the diverse needs of people with disabilities (PWD), has gained recognition in Western markets but remains underdeveloped in India, highlighting the urgent need for greater inclusivity in the fashion industry. This review synthesizes insights from recent studies on adaptive clothing, commercialization strategies, and consumer attitudes to explore pathways for mass-market adoption in India. The analysis identifies key challenges such as affordability, with many adaptive clothing options being priced beyond the reach of average consumers, limited awareness about available products, and supply chain inefficiencies that restrict effective distribution. To address these barriers, the study emphasizes the importance of adopting inclusive design principles that prioritize end-user needs, promoting government incentives to encourage investment, and fostering localized manufacturing practices. By implementing these strategies, adaptive apparel can move toward becoming mainstream in India, thereby advancing empowerment and inclusivity for individuals with disabilities (Bahng & Kincade, 2023; McBee-Black & Ha-Brookshire, 2022; Rana et al., 2024; Wu et al., 2023; Choudhury, 2024; Kosinski & Hall, 2021; Shahani, 2023).