Student designs innovative childrenswear collection supporting autistic children
A final-year student at Heriot-Watt University’s School of Textiles and Design has developed an innovative childrenswear collection that integrates sensory support, inclusive design and emotional wellbeing directly into everyday clothing for children with autism.
Farah Conn, a Fashion Technology student from Biggar in South Lanarkshire, has created Little Waves, a seaside‑inspired collection of eight unique garments suitable for boys and girls aged between three and 12 years old.
Each piece of clothing has been carefully designed to address sensory sensitivities while promoting independence, comfort and choice for autistic children. The project is being unveiled as part of the University’s upcoming School of Textiles and Design Degree Show, held at its Borders Campus in Galashiels.
I wanted to design garments that were calming and functional, but also joyful and inclusive, something children could feel good wearing.
Developed through extensive research with parents, carers and professionals, Little Waves responds to common challenges faced by autistic children when getting dressed. The collection uses ultra‑soft fabrics, flattened seams and label‑free garments to minimise irritation, replacing traditional clothing labels with adhesive QR‑coded tags that provide care and fabric information without causing discomfort.
Crucially, Farah’s designs integrate discreet sensory features directly into the garments. Elasticated beads sewn inside pockets function as built‑in fidget tools, supporting concentration and self‑regulation in environments such as classrooms. Interchangeable sensory patches, featuring calming seaside characters, allow children to personalise their clothing while engaging with comforting emotional cues.
Farah said: “Fashion technology is about solving real problems. I didn’t understand why children with autism should have fewer choices or less exciting clothing. I wanted to design garments that were calming and functional, but also joyful and inclusive, something children could feel good wearing.”
The collection also considers the mental wellbeing of families, aiming to ease what can be a stressful daily routine. Oversized, adjustable silhouettes reflect direct feedback from parents, while tactile elements give children agency in choosing and assembling parts of their outfit.
Farah was inspired to focus her final‑year project on autistic children through conversations in her part‑time work with parents and professionals supporting children with additional needs, which revealed how unsuitable and inaccessible much existing childrenswear can be.
She explains: “Through my own experiences speaking with parents and professionals, it became really clear to me that a lot of clothing available for autistic children simply isn’t designed with their needs or their individuality in mind. I wanted to solve a real problem and create garments that support sensory comfort while still being fun, inclusive and empowering. Autistic children deserve the same opportunities to feel confident and excited about what they wear as any other child.”
Farah hopes that Little Waves can be developed beyond the Degree Show into an accessible, widely available clothing range that improves everyday routines for autistic children, supports family wellbeing, and encourages the fashion industry to take inclusive, research‑led design more seriously.
“I’m incredibly proud to be presenting this work and to have had the opportunity to explore how fashion can make a genuine difference to people’s everyday lives,” she said.
“This project means a lot to me, and I hope it can be developed further after I graduate this summer, whether that’s through industry collaboration, further research or eventually becoming something that families can access more widely. I’d love to continue working in inclusive design and carry this approach forward into my career.”
Bruce Roberts, Global Head of Fashion & Textiles at Heriot-Watt University, provided support and guidance to Farah throughout the project in his role as academic lead.
He congratulated Farah on her collection adding: “Farah’s project is an excellent example of what fashion technology at Heriot‑Watt is about; thoughtful, research‑led design that responds to real human needs. She approached this work with sensitivity, rigour and a clear sense of purpose, drawing on user insight and technical knowledge to create something genuinely innovative. It has been a privilege to support her through the process and see the confidence and clarity she’s developed as a designer.”
Little Waves is one of 90 projects that will be showcased at Heriot-Watt University’s School of Textiles and Design Degree Show, which celebrates the work of final‑year students across fashion, textiles and design. The exhibition is open to the public free of charge from Saturday 23 to Saturday 30 May (closed Sunday 24 May), between 10am and 5pm at the newly refurbished High Mill Building.
Located in the heart of the Scottish Borders, a region renowned for its textiles heritage, the School of Textiles and Design is internationally recognised for producing graduates who are both creative thinkers and industry‑ready problem solvers. Student work on display this year spans inclusive design, advanced materials, sustainable practice and cutting‑edge fashion technology.
The Degree Show offers industry, media and the public a unique opportunity to engage with emerging talent and see how Heriot‑Watt students are shaping the future of textiles and fashion.