Tommy Hilfiger just launched an adorable fashion line for disabled kids

Runway of Dreams
Oliver Scheier and Mindy Scheier, founder of Runway of Dreams. Helen Polise/Runway of Dreams

One day, 10-year-old Oliver Scheier told his mom he wanted to wear jeans just like his friends.

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But because he lives with a rare form of muscular dystrophy, regular jeans don't fit over his leg braces. He also has trouble buttoning and unbuttoning them.

So Oliver's mom, who also happens to be a fashion designer, decided to launch the non-profit Runway of Dreams and design clothing for disabled kids. The non-profit recently partnered with global fashion brand Tommy Hilfiger to create a new line.

"When kids can dress like everyone else, it makes them feel like they're on a normal playing field and like they don't have to hide," Runway of Dreams' founder Mindy Scheier tells Tech Insider.

Check out some of the looks, which are now available on Tommy Hilfiger's site.

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Runway of Dreams worked directly with Tommy Hilfiger's designers to adapt the brand's existing line for kids ages 5 to 20. All of the items are easily adjustable and make it easier to get dressed.

Hilfiger
Richard Corman

Instead of zippers and buttons, which can be tough to fasten, all of the clothes feature magnetic closures. These are at the bottom of the pants, so that the kids can adjust the length if they sit in a wheelchair or have leg braces.

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Richard Corman
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The sweatshirts also open from the back, which make it easier to get in and out.

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Richard Corman

"These changes can make a world of difference, because the identity of the clothing remains the same," Scheier says. "The crux of it is that we're not recreating the wheel. We're modifying the wheel to fit on all other parts."

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To design the looks (which cost the same as Tommy Hilfiger's mainstream line), Runway of Dreams worked with focus groups and asked what was needed in the clothing. It was important to make adaptive clothing for kids with multiple types of disabilities, such as down syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy, and muscular dystrophy.

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Richard Corman

"It's really a broad spectrum," Scheier says. "The clothing is meant to help the masses."

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Richard Corman
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Along with the Tommy Hilfiger line, Runway of Dreams will produce a mini-documentary about the kids they worked with to design the clothing. Check out the teaser below:

 Source: Helen Polise/Runway of Dreams

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