Why should accessibility matter?

Do you use subtitles when your TV needs to be quiet? Or use captions on your social media videos when you don’t want sound? How about when you are crossing the road with a pram or pushchair - do you aim for the dropped kerb where you can?

All of these innovations that make every day life that little bit easier for everyone, do you know why they exist? 

People with different access needs have spent decades campaigning for improvements that make them able to live independently, but the knock on effects for the majority of the population are always there too. Larger spaces on buses might benefit parents with pushchairs but they mean that a wheelchair user can get out and about by themselves.

There is a nasty trend online at the moment to post about “sick-fluencers” or the rise of the number of young people using mobility aids but the authors are coming at it from the wrong angle. For years people with additional needs either struggled through and paid for it later or just didn’t leave the house. Beautiful, young, vibrant people demonstrating that their disability or additional needs don’t hold them back gives confidence to more people to do what they need to be independent.

Accessibility in fashion and jewellery is the same - for Kerry, the idea of adding heavy jewellery to an already achy body was just a no go. Researching materials and finding out the benefits of cork and plant paper was the difference between her being able to feel like herself and not - but we all benefit, who wants to wear earrings that hurt before you’ve even left the house? I don’t need lightweight earrings but there is no way that I’d go back to wearing anything else now!

By designing products for people with additional needs or disabilities we generally make the world a better place for everyone! Shop our accessible jewellery today.