schuh Partners With RECONDITION for Disability Pride Month

Footwear retailer schuh has extended its community window pilot in Manchester with a Disability Pride Month installation by adaptive fashion label RECONDITION.

The Manchester Market Street storefront has been handed over to RECONDITION for July 2026, creating a public-facing showcase for the emerging label and its approach to making clothing more accessible for disabled people.

It is the first adaptive fashion company to be featured through schuh’s community window project since the retailer launched the initiative in March 2026. The scheme provides a rotating platform for emerging creatives, presenting their working practices and creative processes through the store’s prominent frontage.

RECONDITION was founded in 2023 by Manchester Metropolitan University fashion graduate Ellie Brown. The installation will highlight key pieces from the company’s first collection, which was previewed at the Disability Pride Catwalk at Aviva Studios, home of Factory International, in June.

Developing Adaptive Garments

Brown began examining the limitations of mainstream fashion after badly breaking her ankle in 2021 and using a wheelchair for several months.

Her city-centre-based company now works with a co-design group whose members have varying lived experience of disability. Their involvement is intended to ensure that the garments respond to practical requirements identified by disabled people.

Every garment in RECONDITION’s denim-centred range incorporates adaptive features. These include:

• Front pockets on jeans for wheelchair users
• Ring-pull zips for people with reduced dexterity
• Full-length popper openings on sleeves

The sleeve adaptations are designed to accommodate prosthetic limbs and medical equipment, including feeding tubes and insulin pumps.

Extending the Community Window Project

schuh has also provided footwear and funding for the Disability Pride Catwalk. The retailer said the subsequent window installation supports its aim of creating opportunities for local and underrepresented creative voices.

“When we discovered RECONDITION we knew immediately that our values aligned.
“schuh want as many people as possible to be able to enjoy the shopping experience, visit its stores and for customers to feel confident and valued.
“We love that Ellie and RECONDITION are pushing for progress and want to improve accessibility and inclusion in the fashion industry.
“As well as providing footwear and funding for the Disability Pride Catwalk, our Manchester Market Street community window felt like a great stage for Ellie and RECONDITION and ties back to our ambition for the window, which is to create opportunities for local and underrepresented creative voices.”

Stephanie O’Reilly, head of community, schuh

Brown said the Market Street location would provide an opportunity to introduce adaptive fashion to a wider public audience.

“It’s a very exciting opportunity to be able to showcase what we do in such a prominent location.
“I hope our community window will provoke useful discussions about how fashion – and society as a whole – can take more accountability for inclusivity. We are very grateful to schuh for their support.”

Ellie Brown, founder, RECONDITION

The RECONDITION installation will remain at schuh Manchester Market Street, 31 Market Street, throughout July 2026.