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Enactus DCAC Develops Adaptive Clothing For Specially Abled Individuals Under Project Riayat

• By  Textile Excellence
• April 18, 2024

Enactus DCAC, an international not-for-profit student organisation based in Delhi, has conceived Project Riayat to address the challenges faced by the specially-abled individuals. Riayat endeavours to empower them by providing affordable adaptive clothing solutions, creating employment opportunities and reducing the reliance on caregivers for an enriched daily living experience. Simultaneously, it tackles the issue of surplus textile waste through a self-sustaining social enterprise.

In India, individuals with physical disabilities are often ostracised from the society and their hardships are overlooked. They encounter challenges pertaining to infrastructure, education, employment as well as mental-health issues and healthcare. A staggering 30 million people confront the formidable challenge of physical disabilities. Among them, 44.7% face locomotor disabilities, which not only hinder movement but also impact self-expression, independence, and self-esteem, leading to severe mental-health conditions. Such individuals encounter challenges in dressing, which hinder their mobility, motion, and dexterity. From the frustration of removing prosthetic limbs to the struggle of wheelchair users in donning lower garments, these obstacles deeply affect their life and livelihood.

With the mentorship of Dr. S Varuni from AIIMS Jodhpur, Riayat crafted adaptive clothing solutions for their beneficiaries. These clothing are specially designed for individuals with physical limitations, aiming to simplify dressing and undressing. Their innovative design resembles normal clothing from the outside, feature hidden Velcro or magnetic closures, easy-to-use zippers, tear-away sleeves and front or side openings, ensuring smooth dressing experiences with utmost comfort and convenience.

After extensive research on adaptive clothing solutions, Riayat team came across the pressing issue of textile waste and decided to address the environmental concern in their clothing solution. Thus, Riayat incorporated sustainable practices by repurposing the textile waste into their productive clothing.

Riayat actively organises sensitization camps on the issues faced by persons with disabilities, fostering understanding and empathy within communities. The Riayat portal also offers online mental health counselling sessions for individuals with special needs, promoting a positive body image and improving psychological and emotional well-being. Further, it facilitates the online sale of products crafted by specially-abled artisans in collaboration with NIMHANS (National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences).

Project Riayat is working on a five-step business model from community identification to setting up production units, market linkages, and imparting skill training and entrepreneur creation. It aims to become a sustainable social enterprise, transforming these individuals into independent taxpayers rather than be recipients.

Offering a unique selling point, the adaptive clothing is affordable and customisable that enhances the accessibility of traditional Indian wear for individuals with disabilities, fostering inclusivity and broader participation in cultural and social gatherings.

Project Riayat also seeks to address the challenge of constraints in retail channels and limited variety, by the establishing special market linkages to improve economic feasibility and accessibility of adaptive clothing in India.

With the mentorship of Dr. S Varuni from AIIMS Jodhpur, Riayat crafted adaptive clothing solutions for their beneficiaries. These clothing are specially designed for individuals with physical limitations, aiming to simplify dressing and undressing. Their innovative design resembles normal clothing from the outside, feature hidden Velcro or magnetic closures, easy-to-use zippers, tear-away sleeves and front or side openings, ensuring smooth dressing experiences with utmost comfort and convenience.