London Fashion Week: Making Fashion Accessible for Blind & Visually Impaired Attendees

London Fashion Week is undergoing a quiet but significant shift, moving beyond visual spectacle to embrace multi-sensory experiences. Recent shows, including one by designer Chet Lo, have begun prioritizing accessibility for visually impaired guests, offering tactile previews of collections and audio descriptions during runway presentations. This isn’t simply about inclusivity as a gesture; it’s about fundamentally rethinking how fashion is experienced and enjoyed by a wider audience.

Beyond Sight: A Novel Sensory Approach to Fashion

Chet Lo’s Autumn/Winter 2026 show, held in central London on Saturday, February 22nd, exemplified this evolving approach. Prior to the runway presentation, blind and low-vision attendees were invited to a “touch tour,” a dedicated session allowing them to physically explore the garments. Lo himself guided the group, describing the textures, shapes, and materials of each piece. Guests felt the spiky embellishments of emerald green knits and the delicate layering of feather-fluted fabrics, gaining an intimate understanding of the collection beyond visual cues. TheIndustry.fashion detailed the experience, highlighting the importance of tactile engagement.

This initiative is spearheaded by Making Fashion Accessible, an extension of the Hair & Care non-profit founded in 2019 by celebrity hairstylist Anna Cofone. Cofone, who grew up with a blind father, recognized a gap in inclusivity within the fashion and beauty industries. “There is this preconceived idea that a blind or low-vision person won’t care about how they seem and actually that couldn’t be further from the truth,” Cofone explained in The Guardian. Her work began with self-care workshops and has expanded to advocate for broader accessibility at events like London Fashion Week.

The Power of Touch and Sound

The touch tour isn’t a standalone event; it’s integrated with other sensory aids during the show itself. Guests receive headphones providing audio descriptions of each look as it appears on the catwalk, alongside a booklet containing fabric swatches. This multi-pronged approach allows attendees to build a comprehensive understanding of the collection, combining tactile sensation, auditory information, and the energy of the live event. Jane Manley, a data analyst with the Royal National Institute of Blind People, described the experience as allowing her to “connect that energy with the swatch booklet and the audio description to create a picture of each look in my mind.”

The importance of these sensory details extends beyond simply replicating the visual experience for sighted attendees. For model and beautician Livi Deane, who lost an eye to cancer, the swatches are crucial for understanding texture and depth. “With the swatch booklet and audio descriptions, I feel I am not missing out on anything,” she stated. Similarly, disability activist Catrin Pugh found the experience empowering, stating it gave her “the feeling that sight loss takes away” was diminished.

A Growing Market and Shifting Industry Attitudes

The move towards greater accessibility isn’t solely driven by ethical considerations. The “purple pound” – the collective spending power of disabled people and their households – is a significant economic force. Estimated at £274 billion in 2023 in the UK alone, according to Scope, this demographic represents a substantial, often overlooked market. This realization is prompting brands to re-evaluate their approach to inclusivity.

However, accessibility challenges extend beyond runway shows. Navigating physical stores can be difficult for visually impaired shoppers, and online retailers often lack detailed image descriptions (alt text) that would allow them to visualize products. Adaptive clothing features, such as braille tags and uncomplicated-fastenings, remain largely absent from mainstream and luxury fashion.

Lo’s Vision and the Hong Kong Inspiration

Chet Lo’s commitment to accessibility aligns with the broader themes of his Autumn/Winter 2026 collection. Inspired by the vibrant night markets of Hong Kong, the collection features a blend of textures and colors – midnight blacks, dramatic reds, and deep emerald greens – designed to evoke the energy of the city. The Glass Magazine described the show as creating “a truly immersive, neon-lit city.” Lo’s designs emphasize tactile craftsmanship, with recognizable elements like merino wool spikes and multi-dimensional appliqués. The collection was handmade in Chet Lo studios, rejecting mass production in favor of a more deliberate, artisanal approach.

Lo believes that inclusivity should be inherent in the design process. “Low-vision and blind people are a demographic that are really overlooked in the industry,” he explained. “I wanted to prove to other designers that it is really easy to integrate this demographic into our work.” He also emphasized the importance of community and belonging, reflected in the show’s support for the Asian People’s Disability Alliance, with profits donated to the organization.

Looking Ahead: Expanding Accessibility in Fashion

The initiatives at Chet Lo’s show and through Making Fashion Accessible represent a crucial step forward, but sustained effort is needed to create lasting change. The collaboration, now in its third season, demonstrates a growing willingness within the industry to prioritize accessibility. The support from global brands like Philips Sound and Authentic Beauty Concept further signals a shift in attitudes.

The future of inclusive fashion likely involves a combination of technological advancements and a fundamental rethinking of design principles. Further development of audio description technology, haptic feedback systems, and accessible online shopping platforms will be essential. However, true inclusivity requires a commitment to understanding the needs and preferences of visually impaired consumers and incorporating those insights into every stage of the fashion process. Continued dialogue between designers, accessibility advocates, and the visually impaired community will be vital to ensure that fashion truly becomes accessible to all.