-
Community Stories, Advocacy and Campaigns, Health and Disability, Students and Graduates, Staying in work, Self-Employment, Organisations, Spotlight Stories,Blog Views
1190
Patchworker Spotlight: Victoria’s story
Victoria Jenkins is a multi-award-winning Adaptive Designer and Founder /CEO of Unhidden. We recently spoke with Victoria to find out more about her story, the growth of Unhidden, and her vision for the future of adaptive fashion and workplace accessibility.
To start, could you please tell us about yourself?
I'm Victoria. I’ve worked in the fashion industry for 14 years as a garment technologist (sort of like a clothes engineer). Ten years ago, I also became disabled. I live with a number of gastrointestinal and musculoskeletal conditions as well as chronic pain. It was this that has led to me founding my company, Unhidden, and my advocacy work.
Can you tell us a bit more about your story?
I studied fashion design at Istituto Marangoni, graduating in 2008 with First Class Honours, which truly feels like a lifetime ago! I then spent 14 years working as a garment tech for suppliers to Tesco, Primark and Phase Eight etc. I’ve also worked directly with brands like Sweaty Betty, Jack Wills, All Saints and Victoria Beckham.
As part of awareness building for Unhidden, I’ve become something of a public speaker! It was not part of my plan but it has been the only income I have had over the last 2 years. It’s been so amazing to combine what I care about with what helps me get back to financial security. I even did a TEDx talk in April this year, which was an amazing experience! Additionally, I can draw both by hand and digitally, and I love to sew but I am somewhat rusty at it (I used to make wedding dresses). All of this has been helpful as content creation is a huge part of what I do now. I’ve also been very privileged to take part in a number of courses to learn about business, start-up reality and PR.
Have you faced any workplace barriers due to your situation? Do you think the ‘conventional’ world of work most employers use needs to change?
Every year since my life-saving surgery in 2012, I would medically burn out while working a conventional job. This usually meant spending 10 days in the hospital. It was only after going freelance that this cycle ended - now it's just me pressurising myself to be productive, not an entire company, boss or team. The sense of freedom and relief was incredible when I decided not to work full time for other people on a permanent contract. I was consistently denied remote working and almost all the buildings I worked in weren’t great either. This involved long walks to the bathroom, heavy doors, lifts out of order or non-existent.
From my experience, I think employers need to cotton on to the hybrid working method. I love interacting with people in real life, but the days I have to travel are the days I can't work as many hours, it’s that simple. There’s a whole world of people who are fantastic, talented and truly passionate about what they do. However, for some, it’s better if they can work from home some or all of the time!
If you could change one thing about the world of work or the way employers saw accessibility, what would it be and why?
That the benefits outweigh any initial 'cost' and often the perceived cost is nothing compared to employee turnover - the return on better accessibility is massive.
What inspired you to start doing the work you currently do?
During another spell in hospital, I met a woman on my ward who had a lot going on medically after surviving cancer. She told me that she couldn't get dressed how she wanted, for work, at home, or for social occasions. She told me how hard she looked and I was so convinced I would find the right styles for her that I started researching from my own bed!
What I saw in 2016 was not enough. Not sustainable, not aimed really at the consumer but at carers of disabled and elderly people. It wasn't sustainable and there simply wasn't enough on offer - still the case now but it’s changing slowly. The UK is very far behind compared to other countries. So I’ve spent years researching and developing my designs and ideas. Funding has determined the 10 items for the first collection, but so much more is coming - once I have more investors!
What is the biggest lesson you have learnt from your career to date?
That I can ask for help, from peers, friends, and family! I don't have to do it all on my own (I usually do things solo, so this is a relatively new lesson to learn) and people are happy to help. I’ve learnt that I'm not an inconvenience and it usually leads to a better outcome (more content, better copy, exciting new ideas and solutions to problems). I’ve also found that networking is the backbone of small business life, and meeting with other small businesses will only help you grow. These businesses can offer so much amazing advice and there is much to learn from them when tackling different issues. It's been a pleasure meeting and getting to know people in this space!
Do you have a favourite quote or personal mantra?
I want to be in the room where it happens. Except the 'I' is the disabled community.
If you could change one thing about people's perception of disability, what would it be?
I want people to know it isn't all doom and gloom - it has been a gift for me and taught me so much. This community is creative, amazing, smart and a seriously untapped resource!
Find out more about Victoria’s story and work:
Visit Unhidden Clothing’s website
Follow Unhidden Clothing on Instagram
Follow Unhidden Clothing on Twitter
Like Unhidden Clothing’s Facebook
Follow Unhidden Clothing on LinkedIn
Published: 24th May 2022
Tags
All Tags
4-day week 9 to 5 A Shorter Working Week Ability Ability Connect Ableism Academia Academy for Disabled Journalists Academy for Disabled SEO Specialists Access All: Disability News and Mental Health Access2Funding Accessibility Accessibility information Accessibility int he workplace Accessibility ramps Accessible education Accessible locations Accessible places Acid reflux Adaptive fashion Advocacy AI Aleto Foundation Alex brooker All Saints All-Party Parliamentary Group for Inclusive Entrepreneurship Allyship Alt text Amazon Amnesia Andrew Barnes Anglo-norman Announcement Annual appraisals Annualised flexibility Annualised hours Anxiety Apple Aspiring Entrepreneurs with Disability Development Programme Assistive technology Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Autism Award Awareness Balance work Baroness Jane Campbell Barriers Beth Kume-Holland Billy Caldwell Blog British Banking British Territories Brooke Millhouse Brooklyn Budgeting Bullying BUPA Burnout Business Business Disability Forum Business model creation Business skills Business workshop Businesses Cancer Candidates Cape Town Captioning Captions Careering into Motherhood Carers Caring responsibilities Cash flow Cerebral palsy Characters Charity Charity sector Chronic anxiety Chronic health conditions Chronic migraines Chronic pain Closed captions Clothes Clothing Coca-Cola Cognitive disabilities Comfort zone Communal working Communication Community networks Companies Company Company Corner Company culture Concentration problems Confidence Confucius Consultant Consultation Content creator Content designer Contract work Coping mechanisms Core hours Covid Covid-19 Createive pboelm sovling Data talent Day centres Depression Desert Island Discs Diagnosis Difference Digital and social media marketing Digital transformation Disabilities Disability Advisory Service Disability advocate Disability advocates Disability and Neurodiversity Network Disability awareness Disability Awareness Month Disability Awareness Training Disability community Disability confident Disability Confident Leader Disability employment Disability inclusion Disability law Disability news Disability Policy Centre Disability Pride Disability Startup to Watch Disability talks Disabled Disabled and Proud podcast Disabled candidates Disabled community Disabled entrepreneurs Disabled founders Disabled people Disabled People’s Direct Action Network Disabled talent Disabled team Disabled-led Disabled-led organisations Disbled Students Allowance Disclosure Diverse Diverse workforce Diversity Diversity and inclusion Diversity Project Diversity Recruitment Platform Dizziness Domestic violence Downing Street Dysfluency ED&I EDDP Education Education and resource platform Educational institution Emotional intelligence Employees Employers " Employment opportunities Employment platform Empowerment Energy-limiting condition Equality Act 2010 Ethnic minorities European Union Eventbrite Exams Executive dysfunction Expert teachers Expert training Extreme tiredness Fashion Fashion industry Fathom Fatigue Feedback Finance Finances Financial goals Financial planning Financial plans Financial services Financial services sector Financial Times Flexibility Flexible work Flexible working hours Forbes Freelance FTSE 100 Fund management Funding GAIN Game Gaming Gareth Walkom Garment technologist Gastrointestinal conditions Gem Turner Gender Gender Networks Global Diversity Leaders Gradute Grant Logan Guide dog Harvard University Heaches Health and disability Health issues Healthcare Healthcare professionals Healthy living Hearing loss Hidden talent pool Homeworking Hospice UK Compassionate Employers Programme House of Lords Houses of Parliament HR Human rights Hybrid working Ian MacKenzie Illness Inclusion Inclusive culture Inclusive workforce Inclusivity Income loss Incomplete Tetraplegia India Inspiration Intellectual capabilities Intensive care Internships Interview process Interviews Investments Investor Invisible disabilities Invisible disability Invisible illness Irwin Mitchell Isaac Harvey Isaac Harvey MBE Istituto Marangoni Jack Wills Job applicant Job descriptions Job interviews Job opportunities Job vacancies Journalism Journalists Kennedy Scholarship Labour market Learning disability Lee Ridley Leeds Leeds trinity university Legislation Let’s Talk About It LGBT Great LGBTQ+ Limb-pelvic hypoplasia LinkedIn LinkedIn influencer Listening service Liz Carr Lloyds Bank Loeys-Dietz Syndrome London London Fashion Week Long-term health condition Long-term health conditions Long-term illness Mapping days Mark Esho Maths Matt Pierri Maya angelou ME ME/CFS Medical condition Medication Meta Metaverse Metro Migrants Misconception Mobility aids Motivation MRI Multinational firm Musculoskeletal conditions National Council for the Training of Journalists National Health Service Nausea NCTJ Neurodivergence Neurodivergent Neurodiverse Neurodiversity consultant Neurodiversity space Neurotype Neurotypes Neurotypical New Delhi New York News NHS Non-disabled founders Non-profit Novos OBS Occupational health Office environment Online internship Online lecture Opportunities Organisations Oxford university Pain Palpitations Pandemic Paralysis Parents Partially sighted Partnership Pastoral support Patchworker Spotlight Patchworkers People Perception of disability Perceptions Performance reviews Personality Phase Eight Phone calls Physical disabilities Pirate video games Policy Policy expert Poverty Presentations Pride Network Primark Processes and systems Productivity Professional Women’s Network Progress Together Public speaking Pulmonary embolism Puneet Singh Singhal Race Race and Ethnicity Network Radio Raising awareness Recruiters Registered blind Relationships Remote course Remote education Remote learning Remote work Removing barriers Research Residential care Residential colleges Resilience Respite Revenue streams Rights Rowena the Wonderful School Scoliosis Scope Search engine optimisation Secretary of State for Disabled People Selection process Self-care Self-employed Self-employment Senators Senior staff Sexuality Shaw trust Shaw trust power 100 list Sign language SJP Sleep Sleep problems Small Business Britain Social enterprise Social entrepreneur Social good Social impact Social mission Social mobility Social network Social-emotional learning Social-emotional learning platform Software Speaking situation Special Advisor Speech Speech differences Speech disabilities Speech impediment Spinal stroke Spotlight series Spotlight stories Ssstart St. James’s Place Charitable Foundation Staff Stammer Stammering Stoke Mandeville Stonewall Stories Story Strategy Student disability representative Stuttering Style Supportive network Sustainable change Sweaty Betty Target market Tech for good fellowship Tech industry Tech talent TechRound TEDx Temporal lobe epilepsy Tesco The Pursuits of Darleen Fyles Think tank Tinsel Girl Training Transcription UCL UK Government Underrepresentation Unhidden Unhidden Clothing United States Congress Universities University lectures University of Leicester Unlearning Ableism Vanessa Castañeda Gill Victoria Beckham Video editor Video game Vimeo Violence Virgin Virtual reality VR Walks Like a Duck Wealth management Web accessibility What If Everyone Was Disabled Wheels and Wheelchairs Women Women’s Hour Work environment Work experience Work from home Work location Working conditions Working day Working Families Group Working from home Working hours Working week Workplace Workplace adjustments Yale University Youth Zoom Abc Ability Today Access to work Accessibility in the workplace Accessibility test Accessible work Acting Adhd Adjustments Administrative Adrian lord Advice Advocacy and campaigns Allparty parliamentary group for inclusive entrepreneurship American civil rights movement Android Anglonorman App Artificial intelligence Bad grammar Barriers to work Bbc Benefits Blind persons act Blue badge Blue badge service specialists Care Career Carer Celia Chartres-Aris Celtic languages Center on everyday lives of families Ceo Cfs Chloe tear Chronic fatigue syndrome Chronic health condition Chronic illness Commodo aute beatae Community Community story Community, community story, founder, feature, accessible work, disability employment gap, making a difference Companies house Compressed hours Computer science Computers Coronavirus Councils Covid19 Crystal mark standard Deaf Design Dialects Dictionary Digital accessibility Disability Disability discrimination act Disability employment gap Disability rights movement Disability services Disabled peoples direct action network Disabled persons employment act Disabled-led organisation Easy read Edit Tag Test 2 Email address Employer Spotlight Employers Employment English English speakers Entrepreneur Entrepreneurship Epilepsy Equality Equality act Equality and diversity Equality of access Esources, disability, disability services, support services, community story, features, adjustments, social support network Esse vero eum nisi a Eugenics Facebook Feature Features Fibromyalgia First world war Flexi Flexible working Flexitime Flextime Founder Francesco cirillo Freelancing French Gcses Gdpr General data protection regulation Good Good grammar Google Government policy Government support Graduate Graduates Grammar Grammar schools Health Health condition Health conditions Hearing impairment Help And Support Tags History History of language Holistic Ico Impact Impactful Imposter syndrome Inclusive entrepreneur network Inequalities Inequality Information commissioners office Information governance Instagram Internet Jacqueline winstanley Laborum Magna moles Language Latin Law Learning difficulties Lexicographers Limited company Local councils Local government Making a difference Marketing strategy Mecfs Medical conditions Medical model of disability Medical vs social models of disability Medicines Mental health Middle english Mindfulness Mlm Mobility issues Molestias quod sapie Multilevel marketing Nam eaque iure aut v National league of the blind Neurodiversity Nihil corporis aliqu Niya Normans Not Your Grandmas Old english Old french Onboarding and retention Online Out of work Oxbridge Oxford University Parent Passwords Patchwork hub Payment details Planning Planning for work Podcasts Pomodoro Preposition Press release Private schools Psychiatric Psychiatry Punctuation Qui voluptatem debi React Reasonable adjustments Recruitment Remote working Resources Resources and support Rest Retinopathy of prematurity Sales Scam Search engine Second world war Shell shock Slang Sociability Social Cipher Social interactions Social media Social model of disability Social support network Socialising Spelling Spoken language Spotlight series Spotlight stories St. James’s Place Standard english Startup State schools Student Students Studying Suffragette movement Support Support services Symptoms Syntactician Syntax Tag Technology The Disability Policy Centre The elderly Then barbara met alan Trafalgar square Turkish United nations Universal inclusion University University of arts london University of cambridge University of hertfordshire University of hull University of leeds University of oxford Victoria Jenkins Visual impairment Waltham Forest Disability Resource Centre War Ways of working West germanic dialects William shakespeare Windsor consultations WithVR Wordpress Work structure Workforce recruitment Working environment Workplace barriers World war one World war two Yes "Community Young carer