New York plans to launch a grant program in January 2027 for designers, entrepreneurs and researchers developing clothing that is accessible, functional and fashionable for people with disabilities.
The state budget includes $60,000 for the Adaptive Clothing Grant Program, which will operate through New York’s Fashion Innovation Center.
Program targets gaps in clothing options
About one in four New Yorkers lives with a disability, according to the governor’s office, but many have limited choices that combine accessibility with personal style.
The program will support work on clothing designed around different bodies and abilities, including garments that are easier to put on, comfortable while seated and adaptable to physical or sensory needs.
Gov. Kathy Hochul first proposed the initiative in her 2026 State of the State agenda. The program was funded in the fiscal 2027 budget and remains under development, with application details expected before its January launch.
State Chief Disability Officer Kim Ridley said clothing affects identity, independence and belonging as well as function. Fashion Innovation Center Product and Marketing Director Susan Easton said grant recipients should design with people who have disabilities rather than developing products without their lived experience.
Grants build on fashion center investment
The initiative expands work at the Fashion Innovation Center, established through a $10 million state investment and led by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
The center connects researchers, designers, manufacturers and industry partners through Empire State Development’s Division of Science, Technology and Innovation, known as NYSTAR.
Empire State Development Commissioner Hope Knight said the new grants are intended to help turn inclusive concepts into products that can reach the market. The state’s fashion industry supports about 312,000 jobs, according to Hochul’s office.
The governor announced the program during New York Fashion Week at the Runway of Dreams Fashion Revolution event, which features adaptive clothing for people with physical, sensory and developmental disabilities.
Runway of Dreams founder Mindy Scheier said adaptive design should be treated as an essential part of the apparel industry rather than a niche market.
Broader accessibility investments
The adaptive-clothing program is separate from a $5 million state investment in a new Assistive Technology Innovation Center.
That center is intended to develop technologies that help people with disabilities and older adults live more independently. Both initiatives were included in the fiscal 2027 budget.
Once the clothing program opens, grants will be available to designers and entrepreneurs developing adaptive products. The state has not yet announced award amounts, eligibility rules or an application deadline.
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