German brand uses Hohenstein know-how for first wheelchair basketball collection
09/09/2015
Biehler Sportswear has developed the optimised prototype collection for the Elxleben wheelchair basketball club RSB Thuringia Bulls in Germany.
"We learnt about lots of new requirements that people with disabilities have. We were astonished to find this was an area where so much was still lacking – technically and from the point of view of design – so we were motivated to get involved," said designer Sabine Hattenkerl.
Through a project beginning in 2012, scientists at the Hohenstein Institute measured wheelchair users digitally in a stationary 3D body scanner and, using a portable hand scanner, in their sports wheelchair. They discovered non-optimised trousers are generally too short at the back and too long at the front.
"The main challenge was to find a partner in industry who shared our point of view and was interested in establishing a partnership," added Ms Hattenkerl. "In the end, we found our ideal project partner through the Adapted Fashion innovation network in the form of Biehler Sportswear. The positive feedback from the team shows that all the work was worthwhile.”
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