Aerie Adapt: Redefining Fashion for Every Body

Hey there, Planet in Vogue readers! It's been an exhilarating couple of weeks from diving

deep into the world of fashion and inclusivity. I have been especially inspired by the strides brands are making in adaptive clothing, ensuring fashion is accessible to everyone. This journey led me to Aerie, a brand that I've long admired for its commitment to authenticity and body positivity. Let's now explore how we can craft a campaign that intertwines Aerie's character with the empowering theme of disabilities and adaptive clothing.

Aerie's Commitment to Realness

In 2006, Aerie was established as a sub-brand of American Eagle Outfitters. In 2014, Aerie launched a groundbreaking campaign called "AerieREAL," pledging to stop retouching photos and instead showcased models in their authentic beauty. The campaign featured

un retouched images of models in lingerie ads, challenging the unrealistic beauty standards set by the fashion and lingerie industries (notably, Victoria's Secret). By featuring diverse models of different body types, ethnicities, and abilities without the use of airbrushing or Photoshop editing; Aerie positioned itself as a leader in body positivity.

AerieREAL was more than just a statement, it was also a smart business move. Following the launch of the campaign, Aerie experience a double-digit sales increase, proving that consumes responded positively to un retouched, diverse representation. The campaign's bold move resonated globally, promoting self-love, self-esteem, acceptance and redefining beauty standards. It also led to the expansion of inclusive sizing, greater diversity in model representation, and furthered inspired the body positivity movement.

Since 2014, the campaign as grown so much bigger and stronger from ambassadors, people using the #aeriereal on Instagram, and sharing their own stories to make an impact.

AerieREAL Campaign Images; Click here to check out Aerie and #AerieREAL life

Embracing Adaptive Fashion

Building on their foundation of inclusivity, Aerie has ventured into adaptive clothing slowly. They offer adaptive intimates and accessories by collaborating with brands like Liberare and Slick Chicks to provide products that are catering to diverse needs. Some things included are items like ostomy covers and insulin pump holders, ensuring that fashion meets function without compromising style.

Check out Aeries Adaptive & Accessible Intimates & Apparel

• https://www.ae.com/us/en/x/aerie/featured/adaptive-intimates-and-accessories

Check out Aeries Adaptive Clothing Accessories

• https://www.ae.com/us/en/c/aerie/accessories-shoes/adaptive-clothing-accessories/cat780001

• Spoonie Threads Ostomy Cover

  • Waterproof Eco-PUL fabric keeps leaks from getting on clothing

  • not 100% watertight (because of opening that fits around the pouch opening & flap at bottom

  • lower flap provides access for emptying ostomy bag without removing the cover

  • Made with "green adhesive" solvent free, environmentally friendly, releases no volatile organics

• Spoonie Threads Waistband

  • hold ostomies, feeding tubes, and catheters close to the body

  • wear it for post surgical abdominal support

  • be used as a maternity band during pregnancy

  • sensory friendly seams engineered to provided maximum comfort

• Spoonie Threads Insulin Pump Belt

  • enough room to store your meds, phone, insulin pump & more

  • very comfy you will forget you're wearing it

  • sensory friendly seams provides maximum comfort & a streamlined look

  • amazing for low impact workouts (yoga)

  • soft, stretchy, and sweat wicking with a hidden zipper pocket

Ostomy Cover, Waistband, and Insulin Pump Belt

Imagine the "Aerie Adapt" Campaign

To further Aerie's mission, envisioning the "Aerie Adapt" campaign could be transformative. It can include:

1. Real Stories, Real People: feature individuals with disabilities, sharing their personal style journeys and how adaptive clothing empowers them. Having authentic narratives can break barriers and foster understanding.

2. Interactive Design Workshops: collaborate with individuals who have certain disabilities and co-create adaptive clothing lines. Also, by hosting these workshops it can provide customers input that is ensuring them that the products are meeting real needs and preferences. They know more of what they need, then we do.

3. Virtual Try-On Experience via app or Virtual clothing mirror in person: allow customers to see how adaptive pieces fit and function. This can make online shopping more accessible, informed and cater to those who may not be able to shop in person or allow those individuals shopping in person to try it on virtually through a mirror in a virtual fitting room.

4. Posting on Social Media: during the launch post an education series each day catering to those with disabilities. Each day could be a new one. This provides content that is educating a broader audience about adaptive clothing, challenging misconceptions and focusing on inclusively in design.

Visualize the Campaign

Now close your eyes and picture images or videos that is capturing the broad idea for "Aerie Adapt:"

• Showcasing a diverse group of models, including those with visible disabilities, confidently showcasing Aerie's adaptive lingerie line or more extensive a clothing line through promotional photos and have these photos hanging in the store too. As seen above in the Real Me Campaign there were no models featured with a disability on featured in separated photos. Lets include them in those campaign photos as well!!!

• Having intimate and meaningful photos of models using an insulin pump, ostomy bag, etc and integrate it into actual clothing. Unfortunately for the adaptive clothing on Aeries site is limiting it to showing no models or how to use it.

• Behind the scenes shots from the design workshop, where community members are collaborating with Aeries designers.

• Also, showing someone engaging with Aerie's virtual try-on platform online or in person, to show adaptive clothing options

Final Thoughts...

We all know fashion is such a powerful tool that allows us to express ourselves confidently and everyone deserves to feel sen and celebrated. By embracing adaptive clothing, Aerie can continue to lead the charge in making the industry more inclusive. Remember, true style knows no boundaries and in the fashion world we are constantly pushing those boundaries!

✨Podcast Spotlight✨

If you are enjoying hearing my fun blogs every week, don't forget to tune it to our podcast episodes!! We deep dive into what cancel culture is and do we use it way too much for the wrong reason or how the entertainment industry has influenced fashion trends. My podcast host and myself dive into past fashion, reoccurrence of fashion styles, and how societal shifts shape what we wear. I always post the links here and on Instagram. It's always a party and a conversation you never want to miss!!

Now stay fabulous, inclusive, and REAL my Planet in Vogue readers! Until next time watch out for a podcast and follow us on Instagram for any updates and interactive stories that are featured in our podcast!!

These are photos from the website Medium & Aerie. Celebrated Special Olympics, campaign photos to the right, AerieREAL making it to Times Square and Aerie Real Ambassador Conner Lundius testing out her new workout outfit for dance https://medium.com/@chloerhart/the-aeriereal-campaign-changing-womens-empowerment-one-bra-at-a-time-9710acaf0d4f