At Spoonie Threads, we believe that the best designs come from real-life experiences. Our Adaptive Fit Consultant program puts prototypes in the hands of individuals within the disability and chronic illness community, allowing us to gather invaluable feedback during our product development process.
Saba Kamaras, co-founder and designer at Spoonie Threads, emphasizes the significance of this collaborative approach:
"The most important feedback we receive on our adaptive designs is from our Spoonie community. Our Adaptive Fit Consultants are the first people who give feedback on the design concepts. Then they test our prototypes in their daily life to evaluate everything about the product: the fabric, the fit, the functionality, the closures, and the overall style."
This hands-on testing ensures that our products meet the diverse needs of our community. Saba elaborates:
"We try to send prototypes to Consultants with similar functional needs, but those Consultants may vary in age, size, and range of mobility. This gives us guidance on how a zipper may work really well for someone who prefers quick access, but is difficult for someone with limited hand dexterity. That helps us determine if we should update the zipper pull, or create a new version of the design with snaps or magnets instead."
Our commitment to continuous improvement doesn't stop at the prototype stage. We actively listen to customer feedback post-launch:
"Even after we launch a product, we constantly evaluate customer reviews, return requests, and customer comments, to see if there’s more we can do to improve a product."
This iterative process has led to significant enhancements in our product line. For instance, Saba shares:
"On our insulin pump belt, we received many requests to add an opening inside the pocket for tubing to come through. We heard from some customers that they wanted a wider belt, and others that really preferred the shorter one. This led us to develop a new version of the belt that had the interior pocket opening plus two height options to choose from (the Double Pocket Belt and the Ultra Double Pocket Belt)."
Similarly, our ostomy belt has undergone thoughtful refinements:
"Our ostomy belt went through quite an evolution of small changes. We added the gusset on the side of the bag cover to allow for the pouch to expand, we adjusted the width of the belt so it didn’t ride up or down as it was worn, and we added the interior stabilizing strap so that the belt could stretch without stretching out the bag cover and putting pressure on the ostomy pouch. These little adjustments led to a big improvement in the functionality of the belt, and it’s all thanks to feedback from Spoonies!"
This collaborative approach ensures that our products are not only functional but also comfortable and stylish. By listening to our community, we've been able to make thoughtful adjustments that significantly enhance the user experience.
We're proud to share more about our design process in our video, "Behind the Seams: How We Design Adaptive Clothing with Your Help!" This video showcases how our Adaptive Fit Consultant program works and the impact it has on our products.
At Spoonie Threads, our mission is to create adaptive clothing that meets the real needs of our community. Through continuous feedback and collaboration, we strive to make products that empower and support individuals with disabilities and chronic illnesses.
If you're interested in becoming an Adaptive Fit Consultant and contributing to the development of adaptive clothing, we invite you to learn more about the program and how you can get involved.
Together, we're redefining adaptive fashion—one thoughtful design at a time.
