How adaptive fashion is revolutionising LFW with Victoria Jenkins’ Unhidden SS26
Victoria Jenkins’ Unhidden SS26 collection at London Fashion Week reveals innovative, stylish, and fully inclusive adaptive fashion for all
Unhidden’s SS26 Runway Statement at London Fashion Week
“When is enough, enough?” That thought-provoking question marked the start of Unhidden’s SS26 runway at Istituto Marangoni London during London Fashion Week 2025—and it wasn’t just a show, it was a statement. Adaptive fashion is here to change the rules, proving that style, accessibility, and innovation can coexist.
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Unhidden SS26 opened with impact: a defiant stride down the runway redefined fashion as inclusive, powerful, and unapologetically human
How Unhidden Became the First Adaptive Brand on the British Fashion Council
Founded by Victoria Jenkins, an award-winning designer, pioneering disability advocate, and IM alumna, Unhidden is leading the movement for inclusive fashion as the first adaptive brand recognised by the British Fashion Council. Earlier this year, Jenkins made history by launching the UK’s first affordable adaptive collection for Primark, proving that fashion for everyone is not only possible but essential.
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Founder and CEO of the Brand, Victory Jenkins collaborated with Primark to realize the the UK’s first affordable adaptive collection
From Primark to the Runway: Making Adaptive Fashion Affordable and Accessible
At the latest Unhidden runway show, models walked and wheeled with confidence, showcasing designs that are both stylish and fully inclusive. Before the show, Victoria Jenkins returned to the Istituto Marangoni London pattern-cutting studio, where her fashion journey began. She revealed the inspiration behind the collection, shared her mission to transform accessible fashion, and offered a glimpse into the future of inclusive design in the fashion industry.
Alumna Victoria Jenkins: Leading the Movement in Adaptive Fashion
Victoria, welcome back to IML, where your path into fashion started. We are ready for the runway, but I’m curious—what are you wearing today?
I’m wearing one of my creations: a white top with sequins inspired by my medical tablets, a pair of animal-print long trousers. I’ve got brown hair, and I’m a white woman.
Even in your TED Talk, you started by describing exactly what you were wearing. Why is that important?
I do it because it’s important for people with impaired vision or limited sight. You could be blind but still have some vision, and it gives context. If you don’t, for the audience, it’s just a floating voice—they don’t know who you are. Actually, in my TED Talk, I described everything except my light-up stick. I forgot, and I got told off backstage!
How difficult is it to describe colour in a fashion garment?
Sometimes describing clothes is complex and not very helpful because people might not have a frame of reference. If you go too deep into visual details, it just gets longer and longer—that’s not useful. They just need context with facts, not overly elaborate descriptions. As they told me: “We get bored halfway!”
You’ve become a strong voice in the movement for adaptive fashion, both as a designer and a consultant. What drives your mission?
I’m doing this for the community; fashion could be a huge force for change. I don’t remember any incredible brand doing so. It’s also about knowing there are advanced design tools for accessibility—it’s not that complex to design. Fashion could do better, and it doesn’t yet.
Why is it so personal to you?
When you design for everybody, everyone benefits. It doesn’t take anything away. I’ve learned to bring something different to the table, and now I see other designers doing the same. There’s no such thing as a 100% accessible product or system, but something is always better than nothing.
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Victoria Ann Jenkins founded Unhidden after attending Istituto Marangoni London
SS26 Highlights: Inclusive, Stylish, and Print-Focused Designs
What about your new Unhidden SS26 collection style?
It’s a much bigger collection than I’ve had before. It’s very commercial, but I think we still need to see a bit more “dressing up,” even though it stays very natural. We’ve also added some prints this time. We’re still at the stage where we can explore more experimental clothing occasions.
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Unhidden SS26 Lookbook
How is the new collection driving Unhidden’s mission of adaptive fashion?
It’s a good base, though quite casual in style. I think there’s still a gap when it comes to adapting fashion, although I’m really proud to have included a bit of that in the new SS26 collection. With the previous collection, we learned a lot along the way, and we also gained valuable insights from working on the Primark collection. We’ve incorporated tons of feedback into this new collection, and there’s still room to grow. It’s not perfect, but I think we’ve built a really strong foundation. This fashion show reflects everything we aim to achieve.
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Unhidden SS26 lays the groundwork for a future of inclusive fashion—adaptive, evolving, and unapologetically bold in its message
Designing for Real People: Comfort, Accessibility, and Fabric Choices
How do you select textiles in your adaptive design?
I always think: what if the outside looks lovely but the inside is a mess? There are many practical considerations when designing for disability. For example, some people may have skin conditions, so it’s better to use natural fibres. Woven fabrics can be difficult to fit—not impossible, but garments with some more elasticity are much easier to adjust and can still look formal. This flexibility accommodates movement and works well for bodies with asymmetries due to certain disabilities. Ensuring garments have stretch makes them more comfortable for everyone.
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Details from Unhidden SS26
Adaptive Fashion Challenges: Creating the Most Innovative Pieces in SS26
Which garment in your collection was the most challenging?
I quite like a blazer we’ve designed—it’s asymmetric and more fashion-forward. The challenge was getting the fastening right. In the end, we went with snap fastenings, plus a ‘jigger bottom’ hook to keep the blazer close and ensure it drapes nicely. We also explored two options for how the arm opens, as we didn’t want the zip to be visible. Feedback from the community confirmed that the adaptations are discreet, and the blazer still looks smart.
The Future of Adaptive Fashion: Unhidden’s Expansion, Partnerships, and New Categories
Looking ahead in terms of business, where do you see Unhidden in the future?
It’s hard to predict. I think it’s now or never. I never thought I’d see adaptive fashion on the high street, and I certainly didn’t think I’d be part of it. For Unhidden, new partnerships are in the pipeline, and we want to move quickly toward our goals. There are many categories for adaptive design to expand into, like swimwear, shoes, kidswear, and even modest fashion. There’s so much potential, and accessible design can touch every aspect of clothing. There’s so much more that can be done: practical solutions, innovative models, and inclusive garments for every need.
Changing Lives Through Adaptive Fashion: Victoria Jenkins’ Advice for Emerging Designers
What message do you hope to share with the next generation of designers?
Adaptive fashion shouldn’t shy away from reality. It can be commercially successful, but it also literally changes someone’s life. Someone who’s never been able to dress independently can now do so easily and stylishly. Every designer should experience that: ask, “Can people get dressed?” and make it possible.
Silvia De Vecchi
Librarian, London