Imagine being told your entire community doesn’t deserve to feel confident or stylish. That’s exactly what happened to Hanan Tantush, a 23-year-old designer from Chester, when she was dismissively told, 'disabled people don’t need fashion.' But here’s where it gets inspiring: instead of letting that comment defeat her, Hanan channeled her anger into action, founding Intotum, an adaptive clothing firm that recently graced the catwalk at London Fashion Week.
Hanan’s journey began during her student days, when she designed customized clothing for disabled individuals as part of her coursework. Her motivation? Watching her grandfather, Michael Myers, a former Merchant Navy engineer who once took pride in his sharp appearance, struggle to find trousers that accommodated his stoma bag after cancer surgery. 'Every pair of trousers rubbed against it or pressed on the bag,' she recalls. 'He could only wear jogging bottoms without pain, and he hated how they looked.'
And this is the part most people miss: disability isn’t a niche—it’s a reality for about 17 million people in the UK, a quarter of the population. Yet, the fashion industry often treats it as an afterthought. 'When big brands launch 'adaptive' lines, they’re usually just tracksuits in different colors,' Hanan points out. 'People want to feel stylish, to walk into a room and be seen for their outfit, not their condition.'
Intotum, named after the Latin phrase 'as a whole,' aims to change that. The brand offers innovative designs like wheelchair-friendly trench coats, side-opening trousers, and clothing with magnetic or Velcro fastenings. There are even pieces with discreet pockets for stoma bags, inspired by her grandfather’s struggles. 'He tells everyone about my business,' Hanan says proudly. 'He knows he inspired it all.'
But here’s where it gets controversial: is the fashion industry truly inclusive, or is it just paying lip service to diversity? Hanan argues that while the industry has 'evolved,' disability is still sidelined. 'Fashion—the very thing that should help us express who we are—has shut out an entire community,' she says. Her goal? To broaden her collections and eventually have Intotum in stores nationwide, empowering disabled individuals to 'dress without thinking twice about what they can or can’t wear.'
The impact has been profound. Customers have reached out to share stories of dressing independently for the first time in years. 'That’s what success looks like,' Hanan says.
Thought-provoking question for you: Should adaptive fashion be the exception, or should it be the standard? Let’s discuss in the comments—I’d love to hear your take on this!
