{"id":57593,"date":"2024-02-12T11:54:01","date_gmt":"2024-02-12T16:54:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/?p=57593"},"modified":"2024-04-01T14:27:06","modified_gmt":"2024-04-01T18:27:06","slug":"bridging-accessibility-gaps-in-the-fashion-studio","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/2024\/02\/bridging-accessibility-gaps-in-the-fashion-studio\/","title":{"rendered":"Bridging Accessibility Gaps in the Fashion Studio"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n
Fashion and textile management<\/a> student Kaleb Spivey has sewn for years, so he enrolled in FTM 219 looking forward to seeing what pieces he could add to his portfolio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When he entered the Wilson College of Textiles\u2019 fashion studio, however, he quickly encountered an obstacle in his plans for the semester.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI couldn’t really use anything at all in the studio, at least not the sewing machines, because they didn’t have anything but a foot pedal,\u201d says Spivey, who does not have use of his legs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The junior from Greenville, North Carolina, approached his instructor, Keysi Barrios, for advice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Barrios quickly reached out to Sam Pearce<\/a>, a textile studio lab technician at the Wilson College of Textiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI knew that something needed to be done because I wanted him to be with his classmates and have that interaction because that’s such a special time in the studio,\u201d Pearce says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Pearce immediately began researching ways to make the studio more accessible. After thorough research, she discovered MovingMood<\/a>, a consultancy specializing in advising and training companies and institutions in accessibility and inclusive design. They offered a free 3D download of a hand pedal device that can be attached to sewing machines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Utilizing the 3D download, Pearce collaborated with graduate student Ethan Hill in the Flex Factory<\/a> to 3D print the necessary piece. She then worked with coworker Tri Vu<\/a>, a specialty trades technician, to attach the piece to the machine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n