some of the parts & mimiTENs — how one designer in canada is making accessories more accessible
My name is Anna-Maria and I am the designer of both mimiTENS and Some of the Parts.
Both of these are essentially accessories lines. mimiTENS are a line of kids mittens that I came up with when my kids were toddlers. mimiTENS are mittens for kids designed to stay on wriggly little arms.
Some of the Parts is primarily a line of bags with simple and elegant shapes. The idea behind Some of the Parts is to have a shape bag you like and build on it by adding different straps and using the bag in different ways. I want people these to be people’s go-to bags. I want Some of the Parts to be the thing you get excited about when it is brand new and you love forever like a great pair of sneakers and jeans.
HOW DID YOU START TO CONSIDER MAKING BAGS FOR PEOPLE WHO USE WHEELCHAIRS?
I know a guy called Luke Anderson — we’ve become friends.
He is a stylish guy and one day, I put one of my bags on the arm of his wheelchair. Luke told me about how crap bags for wheelchairs were. They were made of cheap nylon, had no proper flaps and were just wide open. Luke told me about how your wallet and phone are just there to be stolen and this happens often. That was the moment for me.
I own a lot of bags and I have never endured indignity like that. I was floored to think that someone who uses a wheelchair would ever have to worry about people being such trash that they would steal their wallet and things from their nylon pouch. And then truthfully, I felt embarrassed and ashamed to not have noticed in the first place. Now that my eyes have been opened to this, I see it everywhere.
WHO IS LUKE ANDERSON?
Luke is legend here in Toronto and you should know about him. He’s an engineer. He is the founder of Stop Gap Foundation which is an organisation that makes portable wheelchair ramps for retailers, restaurants and other public places. If you ask anyone in Toronto about these ramps, they will know them immediately - they’ve supplied over 2000 ramps so far.
Luke Anderson is one of the most important designers in Canada, according to me. His work, impact and reputation preceed him.
Here is showcasing some of my bags in the the images below — he has longer, red, curly hair and a red beard. He’s wearing a brightly-coloured, patterned shirt and light trousers. There are also a few images of mimiTENS - modelled by an adorable baby with light brown hair.
[IMAGE DESCRIPTIONS, FROM LEFT TO RIGHT:
THE FIRST THREE IMAGES ARE OF LUKE ANDERSON IN HIS ELECTRIC WHEELCHAIR. HE IS A WHITE MAN , WITH RED HAIR. HE IS WEARING A YELLOW PRINTED SHIRT WITH WHITE TROUSERS AND WHITE HIGH TOP SHOES. HE IS SHOWCASING A BROWN SIDE BACK ATTACHED TO THE ARM OF HIS CHAIR, AND A LARGER BACK AT THE BACK OF HIS CHAIR.
THE NEXT FOUR IMAGES ARE VARIOUS product shots against a light blue background: a red back with flowers bursting out of it; a close-up of custom straps/attachments; a brown side bag.
the final two images are showcasing mimitens products on a young baby with limb differences on one of their hands.]
WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS? HOW ARE YOU GOING ABOUT ACHIEVING THEM?
My goal is for the things that I design to be accessible.
I want to learn more about accessibility and I hope to be humble enough to do it properly.
As I learn about accessibility, I must admit to being nervous about getting the words wrong. I wish that we could change the words to be more about being a part of a conversation. I want to be a part of a conversation. We should all want to be part of a conversation.
For mimiTENS, started something called the getIN PROJECT. Initially, it was about mittens for kids with limb differences. I am now realizing that I want to grow it beyond that, I want to host creative sessions for kids. I want to partner with other brands in amplify the conversation about disability. I would also love to make little packages for babies born with limb differences. I want to write a small book about how it is going to be ok.
My big dream is to have my own commercial space that I can host events, art, community gatherings and for it to be beautiful and super cool. Not some kind of afterthought...something brilliant from the start.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BARRIERS FOR DESIGNERS TO MAKE ACCESSIBLE CLOTHING AND ACCESSORIES?
There are many barriers, to be honest.
First, is that it is impossible to make a one-size-fits-all solution. This is intimidating. Second, the cost. Starting any business usually costs a lot of money. Finally, I think that the intellectual property aspect of starting a line is very serious too...trademarks, copyrights, patents, etc...
The intellectual property aspect is interesting because it is a barrier to invention for many people. It takes a lot of time and it costs a lot of money. It makes me wonder how many great ideas are sidelined because the process is such a grind. You need the protection though, because it is very typical of large businesses to steal from smaller ones.
Like what if someone comes up with a huge and awesome invention like the guy who invented the wind-up radio? Trevor Baylis. I can’t tell you how much Trevor Baylis inspired me.
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mimiTENS design has earned two patents. One in Canada and one in the USA. Not only is this a huge personal accomplishment, it was really important for the future of my business.
It was really important because I have competitors and they are aggressive. I never wanted to promise helping the limb difference community and then having to take that offer away. It took me seven or eight years to earn my patents, as well as legal bills that came with them – more than $40,000.
My lawyers were so happy. The United States Patent Office did research on gender bias in the field of Intellectual Property. They wrote that of all the patents they have issued in the past ten years, only 4% have gone to women inventors (single inventors). The number goes up to the teens when women are part of research teams but you can see that the bias exists.
This is where governments and even the legal profession needs to step up. They need to waive fees, support inventors, and help create the manufacturing infrastructure to create solutions and support these small inventors like me. We also need protection for the big businesses who frankly, have never cared and who steal from us once we have done all the important work. Otherwise accessibility remains a ‘niche’ issue when it fact, it is the best interests of all of decent society.