More about the Wardrobe Justice project

While led by Auden Granger, this project is deeply indebted to those who have been doing this work long before me, particularly disabled Black and Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC). It is especially guided by the Disability Justice Movement, Erin Gilmer’s explorations on Trauma-Informed Care, Not in Our House Chicago, We See You White American Theatre, Filament Theatre’s anti-adultist art-making practice, Collective Fashion Justice, Bridging the Gap in Theatre, Behind the Scenes Mental Health Initiative, and the International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union’s foundational organizing for garment worker safety.

The curriculum is built around interviews, teaching, and feedback from people with a broad range of lived experiences, diverse identities, and roles — activists, academics, teaching artists, costume designers, stage managers, costume technology instructors, social workers, directors, tattoo artists, arts administrators, hair/makeup artists, costume technicians, stunt performers, theatre students, musicians, actors, and people who wear clothes.

I am extremely grateful for the continued mentorship of costume designer Noël Huntzinger.

Funding and support

This material was developed in part through a 2024 3Arts/Bodies of Work residency, in partnership with University of Illinois Chicago’s Disability and Human Development department and Disability Cultural Center, and School of the Art Institute of Chicago’s Art Therapy department and Disability Culture Activism Lab.

UIC PhD student Amelia-Marie Altstadt provided valuable feedback in the development of the Wardrobe Justice curriculum. Carrie Sandahl, the Disability & Human Development Department Head at UIC, has mentored me and this project from its earliest stages.

The Wardrobe Justice Project is still in development and seeking additional funding opportunities.