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Disability-friendly Festival Fashion

1007. Chloe Ball-Hopkins

Chloe Ball-Hopkins, from Gloucestershire, has designed the first wheelchair-friendly jumpsuit, making festival fashion accessible for the first time.

Chloe Ball-Hopkins

Inspired by her own experiences of attending festivals in her wheelchair, 21 year old Chloe, who was born with Arthogryposis and has Muscular Dystrophy, approached ASOS and asked them to collaborate on the project with her. The waterproof jumpsuit has a number of simple details to make them wheelchair friendly including a front-pocket to keep a phone or emergency medical information, a zip around the middle to separate the jacket and trousers, adjustable cuffs and a hem which is longer at the back to stop it from riding up. Chloe is also an ambassador for ‘Muscular Dystrophy UK’ and ‘Motivation’, a charity which provides wheelchairs to people in developing countries.

In a personal letter to Chloe, Prime Minister Theresa May said:

“Your wheelchair-friendly jumpsuit has captured the imagination of people across the world. It is a fantastic and fashionable statement about the importance of removing the barriers that can exist for disabled people in society.

“I want to also congratulate you for your important work as an ambassador for Muscular Dystrophy UK and Motivation and wish you every success as you train for the 2020 Paralympic Games.”

Chloe said:

“That isn’t what I expected to be told when I received the phone call about being given a Points of Light award. I don’t do any of what I do for recognition, because I enjoy making a difference where I can, but every now and then it’s nice to be told you’re doing a good job and I can’t think of any better way to be told that than being recognised by the Prime Minister.”

The daily Points of Light award recognises outstanding individual volunteers - people who are making a change in their community.

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