When you think of a custom figure skating dress, you might imagine sparkle, glitz and glamour. But sometimes, a dress becomes so much more than something that is just beautiful to look at. It becomes a tool, a support system, something that helps an athlete feel confident, comfortable, and fully themselves on the ice.
Recently, I had the honour of creating a custom figure skate dress for an Inclusive Skating champion who not only competed, but podiumed at the World Inclusive Skating Championships 2025. She lives with multiple disabilities, including scoliosis, Autism, MCAS (Mast Cell Activation Syndrome) - POTS (Postural Tachycardia Syndrome) and hEDS (Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome) and requires a body compression suit to support her joints.
Her resilience is incredible and designing a figure skating dress that supported her needs was one of the most meaningful projects I have ever worked on.
Designing With Purpose, Not Just Aesthetics
This dress began with one question: How can I make something beautiful that also honours her body, comfort, and performance needs?
Working With a Body Compression Suit
Clare wears a compression suit that supports her joints and stabilises her body, an essential aid she uses to help her be her best.
Rather than working against it, I designed the dress around the suit. Every seam, every panel, every line had to complement its structure. The goal was to ensure she could move freely without friction, pressure, or sensory discomfort.
Long Sleeves for Sensory Ease
Some fabrics can feel scratchy, tight, restrictive or overwhelming, especially for autistic athletes who experience heightened sensory sensitivity. Long sleeves were an essential for Clare, not just for coverage, but for comfort.
I selected soft, flexible mesh fabrics and ensured every internal seam was smooth, along with a soft buttery lining. The sleeves act almost like an extension of the compression suit, supportive, gentle, and beautiful.
Considering Scoliosis in Dress Construction
Designing for a curved spine means shaping the dress to fit the real body, not a dress form.
The back of the dress was drafted with 2 asymmetric back panels and a zip. This allowed the fabric to sit exactly where her body needed it to. Nothing pulled, gaped, or twisted. The dress followed her natural lines, giving her freedom.
The Creative Process: Collaboration and Care
We worked closely to discuss her sensory triggers, mobility needs, and design preferences. This wasn’t just about choosing colours and stones. It was about:
- How she moves
- What sensory triggers she has
- Where her body needs support
- How we can compliment her silhouette
- How to blend function and artistry seamlessly
Watching the design come to life felt like building armour for Clare, not in the sense of protection from danger, but protection from discomfort, overwhelm, and barriers that might keep her from performing or feeling at her best. Clare is also a very creative person and had lots of idea and inspiration for her dress. together we combined creativity and functionality.
More Than a Dress: A Message
I hope Clare and her dress can inspire others to rethink how they view a custom figure skate dress and the true value it holds.
A custom figure dress isn’t just something pretty.
A custom figure dress can be accessibility.
A custom figure dress is confidence.
A custom figure dress is inclusivity
A custom figure dress is individually unique
A custom figure dress is freedom.
Every athlete deserves to feel seen, supported, and celebrated in the way their body needs. And custom figure skate dress should mean custom to the person, not just custom colours and aesthetics.
My hope is that this dress shows what is possible when we design with empathy, creativity, and understanding.
Because when a dress works with you and not against you, you can shine exactly as you are.
