Type 1 Diabetic Friendly Clothing
A look into the design inspirations from college that shaped our first collection!
I first came up with the idea to create clothing for people with type 1 diabetes (T1D) while working on my senior fashion collection in college. Having lived with type 1 diabetes and using an insulin pump since the age of 11, I was keenly aware of the challenges women face when it comes to finding fashionable, functional clothing. Determined to address these issues, I dedicated the year to designing a collection called Type 1 Of A Kind to solve my own daily struggles—quickly realizing I wasn’t alone in facing these challenges.
The challenges
When wearing an insulin pump with tubing, the wearer needs something like a waistband to clip it to or a big enough pocket to store it. Freshly diagnosed at the beginning of 6th grade, those tiny, useless pockets on the front of jeans (you know what I’m talking about) weren’t cutting it for me. And at that age, I was too self-conscious to clip my pump to my waistband—I didn’t want to stand out in front of my peers (hello, it was middle school 😬).
When I began my design process, I focused on solving three key challenges to create the ultimate type-1-diabetic-friendly outfit:
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Finding a comfortable place for the pump.
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Making the pump accessible
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Accommodating injections
1. Finding a place for the pump
The first challenge was the most fundamental: designing a dedicated place for the insulin pump. This had to be the starting point—not an afterthought. I began by identifying the best locations for the pump and let that dictate the rest of the design decisions.
I mapped out all of the possible locations a pump could sit, and faced another limitation. An insulin pump with tubing only reaches as far as the length of the tubing itself. The pump has to stay within range of where it’s connected to you, typically around the waist, thighs, or arm.
The next hurdle was comfort. Many insulin pump users know that even if you find a spot, it can still feel awkward. I didn’t just want to make room for the pump; I wanted the designs to feel good, so wearers could almost forget they had it on. Pump wearers often become hyper-aware of their devices, so I focused on making sure the pump stayed secure and comfortable without worrying about snagging the tubing
2. Making the pump accessible
While placement and comfort were top priorities, accessibility was what would take my designs to the next level. Here’s the thing: insulin pumps are not hands-off devices. You still need to interact with them to give yourself insulin. Sure, there are apps now that allow you to manage some pump functions, but not everything can be done remotely. (As I am typing this I am dismissing pump notifications and giving myself insulin from my pump, – hence accessibility!) I didn’t want to solve only part of the problem. Having to excuse yourself to the bathroom to take insulin or discreetly fish your pump out of your bra at a restaurant (ugh, the struggle) is inconvenient, frustrating, and so early 2000s! My designs aim to eliminate those situations, making insulin pumps easy to access when and where you need them.
3. Accommodating Injections
Let’s not forget: people with type 1 diabetes must start with injections before deciding whether to switch to a pump, and most remain on injections. I remember how inconvenient injections could be—especially in public and especially in winter. Unlike an EpiPen, you do NOT inject insulin through clothing! If you’re wearing long sleeves, pants, or a dress, finding a spot to inject yourself without going to the bathroom can be tricky. And while I am all about injecting yourself where and when you need to (because, hello, lifesaving medicine), some outfits just make this impossible. Plus, as I understand it, restaurants usually frown on undressing in front of everyone (not a personal anecdote). If your clothing requires you to partially undress to inject, that’s obviously a no-go in public spaces. That’s why I wanted to design clothes that are also “injection-friendly.” No more hurring off to the bathroom or awkwardly lifting your shirt under the table—you should be able to inject quickly and comfortably, no matter what you’re wearing.
The final looks
Based on these parameters, I designed, patterned, and sewed a 5 look collection of dresses, a romper, and a jumpsuit since these are the types of clothes that I have always struggled to wear with an insulin pump! Each look features two functional pockets for a pump or phone as well as cutouts or slits for easy access for injections! This would be just the beginning as I knew even at the start of this concept that I could take it further and turn these designs into real products for all of the type 1 women who have ever struggled with improper clothing!
What these designs look like now!
Flash forward to August 2024 and that is exactly what we have achieved at KINNAMON! We have launched a 7 look collection with each look coming in 3 color ways. Our collection is a further exploration and refinement of the designs from that senior collection, accommodating type 1 diabetic women, and still focusing on the difficult garments such as dresses, rompers, and jumpsuits. We are proud to be the first brand of its kind and you can shop now at kinnamonclothing.com!!
Let me know in the comments if you guys have any other questions about the process, or if there is anything else you would like to see in a future collection! With type 1 diabetes being a lifelong condition, we're committed to continuously designing, problem-solving, and creating comfortable, accommodating clothing that meets all the needs of the type 1 community!
-Naomi