A Student With Cystic Fibrosis Explains How Her Wheelchair Is A Fashion Statement
In fashion, the lack of representation for people with different abilities is a major problem with far-reaching consequences. For Elsie Tellier, it's something she's had to deal with her whole life. The 20-year-old Harvard student has Cystic Fibrosis which is a terminal illness that mostly affects the respiratory and gastrointestinal system. Due to complications from her disease, she often has to use a wheelchair to get around. As a fashion lover turned fashion blogger, she had difficulty finding outfits she could wear comfortably in a wheelchair. As a way to combat this and be a representative for people with disabilities, she decided to change her mindset. In a viral tweet, she explained, "For those confused! I'm not paralyzed, I use a wheelchair for a damaged vestibular system + joint problems! I used to use it daily but now I walk a lot more! When I'm in my chair I take pics bc I used to feel ugly in my chair and want to show that you can still be fashionable!"
In the images of her rocking incredibly stylish looks, Elsie's wheelchair is painted with a galaxy on one side and flowers on the other to match her overall aesthetic. She told Teen Vogue, "I see fashion as a starting point. For a lot of people, disability can seem foreign, but fashion serves as a way to break down barriers that differences can create. Disabled people are the world’s largest minority but have the least representation. I have always fun that by dressing in a fun way that makes me feel great, people have the opportunity to strike up conversations on the street about what I’m wearing and my style."
Representation isn't just about imagery in fashion, it's also about the clothes themselves. "A lot of fashion concerns that arise for chronically ill and disabled people tend to involve mobility, comfort, and medical access," Elsie explains. "For people who have mobility limitations having clothes that stretch, have easy-to-use clasps/closures [are important]. When it comes to chronic pain, ADHD, skin conditions, or anything else that can cause tactile hypersensitivity it is important that clothes are soft, have seams that aren’t too itchy, and minimal clothing tags. If you’re someone who uses nasal cannula (oxygen tubes), feeding tubes, PICC lines (an opening in the arm for long-term IV access), or any other medical device which stays on your body for a long time then you need clothes that make them easy to reach and help keep them clean."
Even though she's a busy student at an Ivy League college, Elsie is still finding time to maintain her initiative within fashion by using her growing platform to share both her style and her story. As she put it herself, "As much as I live for the aesthetic, it would be my dream to see brands think of not only appearance but find ways to turn comfort into art."
Related: This Fashion Show With Models in WHEELCHAIRS Is the Best Thing You'll See All Week
Check this out:
