Spinal Health Week - Carol Taylor

A photo of Carol Taylor, Australia's first Quadriplegic fashion designer, Partner and head of design and production at Christina Stephens. Carol is an attractive blonde woman, with shoulder length hair. She is wearing a beautiful blue blouse whilst sitting in her power chair, in her creative studio. She is holding her reading glasses and note papers, as she smiles for the camera.


Carol Taylor is an award-winning Lawyer and the world’s first Quadriplegic fashion designer and disability advocate. She is a Partner (Head Design and Production) of Christina Stephens, Australia’s most recognised adaptive clothing label, conceived by business woman and founder Jessie Sadler.

In 2001 an accident left Carol a quadriplegic. Carol’s spinal cord was severed resulting in complete paralysis from the chest down. Despite having only some arm movement Carol spent years teaching herself to use her paralysed hands. With the help of some specially made tools, Carol found a way to draw, paint, and create. Carol is now an award-winning artist and fashion designer, having shown her inclusive and adaptive designs at Australian Fashion Week.

Being a very businesswoman, spinal health is important to Carol, who occasionally suffers tension headaches and migraines, most often caused by stress. “I have a weighted eye mask; it can be warmed or chilled and I use this from time to time. Overwhelmingly for me though, the best remedy is physiotherapy, followed by resting in a dark room. I used to suffer chronically from migraines before my spinal cord injury, interestingly I have far less since I severed my spinal cord. I wonder sometimes that maybe the message can't get through to the brain so when I do from time to time have one it's probably pretty bad.”

When it comes to keeping my spine in check, I swear by physio twice a week. It's an essential part of my well-being, and I rely on it for proper functioning. I know that exercise is also critical for spinal health. Although I've been longing to attend Making Strides [an exercise physiology and allied health service] for a while now, various medical issues, coupled with the ongoing Covid situation, have hindered my participation. Thankfully, I've got things under control now, so I'm hoping to start there soon.

Now when it comes to adaptive clothing, I may be totally biased, but I strongly believe that it plays a crucial role in promoting spinal health. There are the obvious mental health benefits of feeling empowered and happy within yourself when you know you look hot and have the choice to wear what you want, not just what you're given. Then there are the physical benefits of clothing designed to meet your needs especially when it comes to things like pressure sores. That's why we developed our special seamless “bucket bum" pants, which allow customers to freely wear what they want without the fear of nerve pain or pressure sores. Pressure sores are incredibly dangerous, and their consequences are often underestimated. Our seated jeans have undergone extensive textile research and development to create custom denim blended with soft and sustainable fabrics like Lyocell. This design helps prevent pressure injuries by providing a soft internal surface.


Three photos of the latest adaptive fashion creations from Christina Stephens. Image 1: A blonde model shows off a pants ensemble with a black sleeveless top and leopard fitted pants. Image 2 and 3: Well known Brisbane model and disability advocate Lisa Cox shows off two outfits whilst sitting in her manual wheelchair. Lisa is a young and attractive blonde woman with a prosthetic leg. In Image 2, Lisa wears black adaptive capri pants and a gold knit top with her blonde locks cascading over her shoulders. In image 3: Lisa wears a light blue top and navy pants from the most recent Christina Stephens "Unwrapped" collection.


A similar approach has been taken for individuals who use prosthetics. We carefully listened to their needs and concerns and recognised that durability and sustainability are significant issues due to the friction between prosthetic and fabric. Moreover, temperature regulation becomes problematic for those with limb loss, and they also require access to adjust their prosthetic as needed. Taking our customers' feedback into account, we have developed a unique and innovative approach to our prosthetic denim designs, aiming to address these challenges.

Designing adaptive clothing involves considering various aspects. Sensory-friendly fabrics are not only crucial for individuals with sensory issues but also for those who experience sudden and extreme fluctuations in blood pressure caused by their body's inability to temperature regulate. People with dexterity and mobility issues appreciate features like pull tabs and easy access. The design process goes beyond simply replacing buttons with magnets, since magnets may not suit everyone. Our designs are deeply influenced by the lived experiences of individuals with disabilities, including my own, as well as the perspectives of our customers. We genuinely listen to their feedback because, ultimately, they are the ones we design for.

We take pride in incorporating the lived experience of disability into our designs, and here's an interesting trivia fact that the general public may not be aware of: Officer Fitzroy Somerset, who later became Lord Raglan, was among the wounded in the Battle of Waterloo and lost his right arm. But this guy wasn't about to let this setback cramp his style. With his trusty tailor by his side, they developed a new shirt design. Instead of the traditional sleeve set into the armhole, they created a sleeve that extended diagonally from under the arm to the collar. This Raglan design allowed for greater freedom of movement, enabling Lord Raglan to dress easily and wield his sword effectively.

While we don’t see many folks swinging their swords these days, the enhanced mobility provided by this design remains relevant, especially when considering the physical exertion required for individuals who use manual wheelchairs constantly. For this reason, we have fully embraced the raglan sleeve design in our Unwrapped Collection.


A montage of three images from the Christina Stephens "Unwrapped" collection. Image 1: Kirja, a beautiful blonde model with long blonde hair worn in curls models a flowing blouse with raglan sleeves and black slim leg pants; Image 2 - A model shows off a leopard print patterned ensemble with a blood red cape and heavy black boots; Image 3 a female model wears casual attire consisting of jeans rolled up at the hem and a red blouse tied at the waist, Dinesh Palipana OAM, an Indian man sits smiling in his wheelchair, shows off his outfit consisting of casual jeans, white collared shirt and nude vest open at the front.


More information:

E: Carol@christinastephens.com.au

W: https://www.christinastephens.com.au



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