Ava Wagner

Ava Wagner
Ava Wagner

Ava Wagner is a designer who is most inspired by people. Her four sisters, each artistic in their own way, have been a source of inspiration along her journey. From covering the driveway with sidewalk chalk, to making play-dough sculptures, and hand sewing babydoll outfits, she and her sisters found joy in exploring various creative outlets. 

 

Through her work as a Personal Care Assistant,  Ava has become interested in creating accessible fashion for individuals with disabilities. She believes that a person’s mood can be determined by the outfit they are wearing and wants to make her mark on the fashion world by designing clothing that builds confidence. Her goal is to understand the true apparel needs of these individuals and meet those needs in a fashionable way. 

 

In honor of her late friend, who loved Toy Story, “Friend In Me” is an accessible line of clothing that addresses the needs of individuals with disabilities. Although each design was tailored specifically to their individual needs, the design techniques can be applied universally to make getting dressed easier for people with diverse capabilities. Through her research, Ava found that ninety-eight percent of individuals with a disability have difficulty with closures like zippers, clasps, and buttons. Ava’s solutions using elastic and magnetic purse snaps have transformed the functionality of casual clothing. Moving forward, her goal is to use her research to implement accessible design techniques on a larger scale. Ava would like to work with companies to provide a broader range of fashionable and accessible clothing. This topic has a special place in her heart and has shown each person deserves to feel comfortable and confident in their clothing.

Models for Ava Wagner's line Friend in Me.
Models for Ava Wagner's line Friend in Me on runway.