Accessible clothing and refashioning the British disability equality framework: Finding the missing threads to realise disability equality in practice

The role of commodities including clothing in realising equality in practice is well established in developmental economy literature, via the Commodities and Capabilities Approach advanced by Sen and Nussbaum. However, disability is under-considered in the current literature. Whilst it is possible for people with disabilities to purchase clothing, garments that fit their particular bodies and/or access needs are missing from the high street. This highlights a fundamental disconnect in the disability equality framework in Britain. Although service providers must make reasonable adjustments to ensure access to services, there is no such requirement for physical products to be accessible. Lack of access to a variety of clothing inhibits the ability of people with disabilities to present themselves and their capabilities to others, which in turn limits their ability to challenge stereotypes and negative attitudes. Consequently, this limits their ability to engage with a number of their wider social, cultural and economic rights in practice. This article proposes applying a Commodities and Capabilities Approach lens in the context of disability to demonstrate the importance of commodities beyond their mere existence in revealing, maintaining, or challenging barriers to access and equality beyond the pages of legislation.