Izzy Does It Easy Creative Crusade for Universal Chic
Her career trajectory shifted when she received a request to create a stylish wardrobe for a quadriplegic news reporter and wheelchair user named Barbara Turnbull. As the two worked together, a world that was once unseen and unheard became vividly apparent. Through Barbara’s lived experiences, Izzy gained invaluable insight into the daily clothing challenges people face while living with a physical disability. This eye-opening collaboration fueled Izzy’s determination to make a difference through her designs. Until then, Camilleri didn’t realize that people with a physical disability had different clothing needs or that clothing was either difficult or, in some cases, impossible to wear. Through her work, she discovered that clothing details, if overlooked, could lead to life-threatening pressure sores that can develop undetected. If left untreated for too long, they could eventually lead to blood poisoning and death. She began to wonder what clothing was out there specifically for wheelchair users. After some preliminary research, she found that the existing adaptive clothing seemed to cater exclusively to the elderly or individuals living in long-term care facilities, leaving a significant gap in fit and style. In 2009, Camilleri unveiled her brainchild, IZ Adaptive—a fashion brand dedicated to crafting fashionable, functional, and inclusive clothing for individuals with physical disabilities. When it comes to designing for seated frames, the rules of the fashion game change dramatically. As Camilleri discovered, the traditional approach to clothing sometimes aligns differently with the realities faced by individuals who spend most of their time in a seated position. From discomfort caused by clothes bunching up to the risks of pressure sores that can go unnoticed, the challenges are both physical and emotional.
PHOTOGRAPHED BY MAYA FUHR // COURTESY OF IZ ADAPTIVE WRITTEN BY STELLA POLYZOIDOU
E very success story has its humble Since the age of 10, the world of fashion has been her playground. With every stitch and creation, her love for designing clothes has only beginnings, and Izzy Camilleri’s story is no exception. Hailing from Toronto, Canada, Izzy initially embarked on her fashion journey as a freelance stylist, showcasing her creative flair in the world of film and television.
grown stronger. At 19, fresh out of fashion college, Camilleri took a leap of faith and started her own brand. But little did she know that her path would soon take a significant turn, leading her to become a trailblazer for adaptive fashion. From crafting clothes for high school plays and friends, she honed her skills and pursued her dreams at Sheridan College in Oakville, Canada. Armed with her fashion degree, Izzy ventured into the world of freelancing, and fate intervened when she crossed paths with Toronto’s top models, catapulting her into the heart of the industry.
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