Louisa Summerfield has been a self-described “girlie and feminine” woman ever since her teenage days. Even having been born with severe rheumatoid arthritis and having to use a wheelchair since age 9, Summerfield has never—in any way, shape or form—allowed her disability to make her feel any less attractive.
“I’ve always had quite a flirty nature and to be honest, I’ve never seen my disability as a problem in regards to how beautiful or desirable I feel, which is probably reflected in my very colorful love life,” she says.
“Wheelchair Women” Need Fashion, Too
It’s no surprise her love for everything glamorous finally evolved into the creation of her fashionable clothing line for “wheelchair women” called WheelieChix-Chic.
Her company, launched in September 2007, premiered its fashion line using nine beautiful wheelchair models at an event held at one of London’s hottest nightclubs. Summerfield’s company is based in London, UK. Any buyers not based in the UK but interested in the clothing line, of course, can still purchase their garments,.
More Than Adaptive Clothing
What makes WheelieChix-Chic so unlike any other “adapted” clothing company out there?
“I didn’t just want my clothes to be ‘adapted,’” Summerfield says. “There are companies out there who really do make me cringe; it’s as if our lives are just about being practical without sex appeal and style. My collection focused on style first and then all the ways we could adapt them in terms of comfort and fastenings. The body shape is different when sitting and this had to be a starting point for the collection.”
One of the most popular garments of the WheelieChix-Chic collection is the black “Maya” jersey fabric dress. The length of the dress can easily be altered by adjusting the drawstrings on each side of the skirt. “I usually wear it short with opaque tights, boots, and tons of accessories,” Summerfield says.
Confidence, Not Disability
In short, WheelieChix-Chic is all about accentuating the seated frame in the most glamorous way possible.
“We have to put up with so much in life," Summerfield says. "We don’t need to compromise our beauty and our style. We’re different because the clothes ooze sexiness, glamour, and elegance. I’ve always said, you won’t remember my customers just because of their disability, but the confidence and sex appeal they exude from wearing the collection.”
Make sure to look for WheelieChix-Chic’s lingerie line that will be premiering later this year. Also, their designer Amelia Ursache is available for wedding dress consultations and will soon offer fashion consultations to create wardrobes based on your disability.
