Sat 15 May
Small Stories: EveryHuman.
Matthew Skerritt set his sights on changing the fashion industry to be more accessible and inclusive for people living with disabilities. And in the year since launching EveryHuman, the world has already started to change for the better.
When it comes to clothing, it’s often overlooked that some elements of everyday products aren’t suitable for everyone. People living with disabilities struggle with things others take for granted, like tying shoelaces or buttoning shirts. That’s why in 2020, Matthew Skerritt launched EveryHuman – a company designed to make the fashion industry more accessible and inclusive for people of all abilities.
‘I know how I feel when I put on a nice pair of pants, shirt and jacket. I feel confident, have a bounce in my step and feel like I can tackle the world. My friends with disabilities are no different.’
EveryHuman is a curated online platform for fashion-forward adaptive clothing and footwear. Based out of Sydney, Matt and his business partner Harry, make the leading adaptive brands from around the world available in Australia and New Zealand for the very first time. ‘I don’t have a background in fashion at all,’ says Matt. ‘In fact, I used to work in professional services before then moving into the aged care sector. It was there that I came across the term ‘adaptive clothing'.
If you’ve not heard that term before, Matt explains: ‘Adaptive clothing is designed to assist people with dexterity, movement or sensory challenges throughout the dressing process.’ The team at EveryHuman work with adaptive brands who make subtle adjustments to mainstream fashion, making it more accessible and inclusive for people living with disabilities. This includes replacing buttons with magnetic closures, designing clothing for the seated position and creating shoes that are easy on/easy off, AFO (Ankle-Foot Orthosis)-friendly or have one-handed zippers to replace laces.
The business problem.
‘Adaptive’ is not a new concept. Historically, people have been creating small lines to fulfil their own personal needs. But soon after Matt began looking into the adaptive clothing market in Australia, he noticed the myriad of opportunities for improvement. The clothing had a medical focus rather than fashion focus, the quality of the products wasn’t great, and there wasn’t any real emphasis on making the clothes feel sexy. He summarizes, ‘so, there was this situation where people needed adaptive clothing but weren’t wearing it.’
What does that mean for the team at EveryHuman? ‘We are fighting for inclusiveness,’ says Matt. ‘Yes, we offer a product and service for our customers. But for us as a business, what we value is so much bigger than that.’ Their mission is to get the fashion industry to have a more inclusive mindset when it comes to disability, whether it be in the designs, on the runway or on the pages of mainstream magazines. And from there, bringing adaptive clothing into the mainstream with collections that people want to wear. Creating fashion that, ‘allows people with disabilities to express themselves, feel confident, powerful and sexy.’
The way they’re achieving that is partnering with popular brands, such as Billy Footwear, to create collections that are universal. ‘Historically, the adaptive footwear on offer had a medical focus rather than fashion focus. Billy Footwear has done an awesome job at creating a shoe that is fun, stylish and looks no different to a mainstream shoe.’
Another key brand partner is Tommy Hilfiger; one of the most globally recognised adaptive fashion brands. ‘Both of these brands have gone a long way in breaking down the stigmas often associated with adaptive fashion and disability,’ say Matt.
Evolving the industry.
After just a year in the industry, Matt’s starting to see brands embracing the idea of creating a collection for people of all abilities. ‘Last year we were able to take part in Melbourne Fashion Week, showcasing the best of adaptive fashion that is on offer.’ And it’s a change we can all get on board with. Matt smiles, ‘It is just absolutely fantastic to see such a reputable event strive to become more inclusive and give people with disabilities a platform to showcase their talents.’
‘When I speak to friends with disabilities, I hear the passion for greater choice in adaptive clothing that is also fashionable. That’s the inspiration for creating EveryHuman. It is something that I really connected with on a personal level.’
And how do the customers feel?
As you can imagine, the work the brand does is having a profound impact on the lives of their customers, families and friends. ‘We’ve had some really touching stories from our customers in the first year,’ says Matt. ‘Just recently, we had a parent write to us saying that their son has been able to independently put his shoes on for the first time at the age of 25. It has made what we do so powerful and rewarding.’
As their profile grows, so will the demand from them to grow their business. But Matt is prepared for that with a plan to increase their range, and diversify their offering. ‘We are really happy with our product selection so far, however the goal as we grow is to offer more choice. A focus for us will be to partner with some global brands in the adaptive space and build out our offering to include pieces that cater to needs we currently do not cater to.’
‘Our goal is to become the lifestyle brand for people with disabilities.’
Matthew’s quickfire questions:
- What brand would you love to work with?
There are two brands that are paving the way for adaptive apparel and footwear; Tommy Hilfiger and Nike. We have been lucky enough to partner with Tommy Hilfiger last year, so we would love to work with Nike next.
- Would you consider designing a collection yourself
At some point in time, absolutely! But it is not our focus at the moment. Our primary focus right now is to provide greater choice by working with other adaptive brands.
- What gets you up in the morning?
This is an easy one for me; knowing the positive impact we can have for our customers from a product perspective and also in terms of what we stand for as a brand. Those were the reasons that EveryHuman was born, and they haven't changed a bit since. We’ve had people write to us saying thank you because they’ve been able to dress themselves for the very first time at the age of 25 years old. Not only that, but people look to us for greater choice and a platform for representation. It’s an extremely empowering concept and is by far the most motivating aspect for me.
- What are the most popular items you sell?
We have a few really high performing categories, but our Billy Footwear brand has been a favourite. I'd put it down to the team at Billy Footwear creating an incredible brand that people believe in, and a universal product with a functionality that caters to so many people that most footwear brands do not consider.
- What do you do for fun outside of work?
I love to travel. Whether it’s going down to Kiama on the South Coast of New South Wales, up to Byron Bay, or overseas (although not recently), it is the one thing that allows me to break up the daily routine. For me, travelling is also one of the best forms of personal growth. Exposing yourself to new surroundings, people and cultures opens your mind to ideas and concepts that you may not experience back at home.
When I have some downtime in Sydney, you'll find me outdoors and somewhere close to the water, whether it be going to the beach, taking our speedboat out for a wakeboard or going for a run.
