That matters most to me.” From cradle to the runwayĬonners’ love of clothes and style started at an early age. “But Individuals with disabilities should be able to wear whatever they feel comfortable with but not have to sacrifice the quality of the clothing. “Anyone can and is welcome to purchase my customized designs, whether or not they have a disability,” Conners said. The goal, she added, is to ensure the dignity of people with disabilities. They can also add concealed zips and openings for feeding tube access.

Through her website, a person can customize the garments based on traditional options like size and color, but also personalize them around their specific needs.įor instance, a customer can choose between a zipper or a magnetic closure.

But her focus was on making sure her designs could truly be “realistic” options for anyone. Inspired by the styles popularized by designers Michael Kors and Kate Spade, she aims to create “stylish garments” for everyone, not just for those with physical disabilities.

Conners aims to inspire others to pursue their dreams even if they have physical or other limitationsĬonners specializes in what’s called “inclusive and adaptive clothing.”.

Working with a production team, Conners has created multiple collections of customizable clothing options for people with disabilities.

Conners has cerebral palsy, a neurological disease that affects her limbs and her ability to speak.

Marisa Conners is a Cincinnati-based fashion designer specializing in inclusive and adaptive clothing.

“Anyone should be able to wear something special and fabulous without difficulty,” said Conners, who started her namesake fashion line last year. She debuted her second collection at the 2022 Acceptance Week Fashion Show this spring. Her solution? Create her own clothing line that caters to women who have physical challenges or disabilities – a demographic that many clothing companies don't consider. But finding clothing that fits her physical needs hasn’t always been easy. But as a woman with cerebral palsy, she’s also mindful about factors like how many buttons are on a dress or if there’s a zipper in the back that she won’t be able to reach by herself.Ĭonners, 25, has loved fashion since she was in kindergarten. Local fashion designer Marisa Conners thinks about those concerns, too. Maybe they’re also concerned about how much an item costs or how it will blend into the rest of their wardrobe. CINCINNATI – When most people go shopping for clothes, they’re usually focused on what’s trendy or how something fits their body.

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