This interview is Part II of this series covering accessibility in design, education and more. Watch Part I with leaders and entrepreneurs who are leading innovative, inclusive practices.
This episode of the Nonprofit Report features the founders of SOLACE Collective, a company creating sensory-friendly clothing designed for both neurodivergent and neurotypical individuals. The conversation explores how inclusive design, lived experience, and collaborative innovation can help create products that improve comfort, accessibility, and everyday experiences for a wide range of people.
Interview by: Mark Oppenheim
Guests:
- Aidan Turner, Chief Executive Officer
- Carolyn Fernandes, Chief Product Officer
- Lucas d’Oelsnitz, Chief Financial Officer
Key Points
- SOLACE Collective creates sensory-friendly clothing designed to reduce discomfort caused by traditional garments.
- The company’s development process included a 430-person survey to better understand experiences with clothing discomfort across a broad demographic range.
- The organization focuses on three guiding principles: listen, adapt, and empower.
- Designs are intended to be both functional and fashionable, avoiding products that feel overly medicalized or stigmatizing.
- The company grew out of the Intelligence++ program at Syracuse University, which emphasizes inclusive and universal design principles.
Other Points on Inclusive Design and SOLACE Collective
SOLACE Collective was founded through a combination of lived experience, design education, and collaborative research. Carolyn Fernandes shared how personal experiences with neurodivergence and workplace bias helped inspire the company’s mission to create clothing that is more comfortable and inclusive. The founders recognized that many people experience sensory discomfort with clothing, even if they are not always consciously aware of it.
The company’s design philosophy centers on universal and inclusive design principles. Rather than adding external accessories or medical-style features, the team focuses on modifying the structure and construction of garments themselves. This approach allows the products to remain stylish and wearable while addressing sensory concerns such as tags, seams, and texture discomfort.
Research and feedback are central to the organization’s development process. The founders conducted surveys and gathered input from a broad range of individuals, then used iterative testing and prototype feedback sessions to refine their products. They emphasized the importance of continually listening to users and adapting designs based on real-world experiences.
The discussion also highlighted the broader value of inclusive design. Examples such as curb cuts and subtitles demonstrated how solutions initially designed for specific groups often benefit much larger populations. The guests emphasized that creating more inclusive products and systems can open new opportunities, improve accessibility, and strengthen innovation across industries.