Kim’s wheelchair chic

I've always loved fashion. When I was a little girl, I used to sketch my own fashion designs. When I was younger I refused to wear the special medical boots that were attached to the calipers. At the time, all my girlfriends wore lovely little shoes and I was in heavy boots, so I rebelled. I asked the caliper manufacturer to drill holes in fashion shoes from the high street. I was determined to have those shoes, and later the company told me I had started a trend.

I think clothes are such an important part of expressing oneself and disabled people should get as much of a choice in how they’re going to do that as anyone else.

Now, I go to all the high street stores like French Connection, Coast, Warehouse and Jigsaw, which has a lot of nice textures. I love Calico for cropped, fitted jackets – they work for me because I’m quite small.

Another obsession of mine is accessories – I love hats, scarves and jewellery from shops like Accessorize. Wheelchair access has improved, so you can get round stores much more easily now. Accessible changing rooms are more widely available, especially in the big department stores.

But I would like to see more companies using disabled models. There are no images of disabled women in high street advertising campaigns. It makes me think that nobody is thinking about us when they design clothes.

If there were, it would be really encouraging because disabled women might think, “Well, I could wear that too.” I am so ready for the smock tops that have been popular this season to go out of fashion. I find that they drape very low, which doesn’t work for a wheelchair-user.

I think there is a definite need for a company like WheelieChix because it presents more choice for wheelchair-users, especially if you’re looking for something stylish in a hurry.

I think WheelieChix’s new designs are wonderful. I have never seen a company that presents clothes specifically for disabled women in this way. A lot of clothes designed for wheelchair-users are practical, but haven’t focused on fashion. But I’m really impressed with WheelieChix. The clothes are absolutely gorgeous, but they’re still practical. They’re sophisticated and sexy – a great combination.

I noticed an ivory-coloured dress with plenty of detail and texture, and I fell in love with a purple skirt – one of my favourite colours.
I’m also fond of jackets – it is one of the most important aspects of every outfit I wear. I really feel the cold, so I rarely ever take my jacket off. I could imagine wearing the grey and black jacket from WheelieChix.

I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve tried buying trousers in a hurry and then gone home to realise the pockets on the side don’t work sitting down in my wheelchair. It’s finding things that are cropped enough at the waist.

There are definitely things every woman needs to think about, but if you’re a wheelchair-user there are a few more considerations. It’s nice to know there is a new clothing line that shows confident disabled women enjoying the clothes and looking great.

Tanni&Anni, the new line from Rackety’s and Tanni Grey Thompson, didn’t excite me as much. It all looked very much like outdoor sportswear – I personally don’t go for that kind of look.

I can see that there will be a market for it but it didn’t do as much for me. I have a mental block when I see capes and huge coats because as a child people always wanted to cover me up.

Balamory might be a lot of things, but it’s not where you go for glamour. I don’t think there was much place for fashion at all on the set. The clothes were comfy and meant for the weather. The costumes were made with children in mind so they would stand the test of time. Even so, I still don’t quite get the idea behind Penny Pocket’s velour tracksuit. People still get shocked when they see me out of it. I just have to leave the house in anything other than my tracksuit and I look fab.

• Kim Tserkezie was talking to Elizabeth Choppin.

More information: WheelieChix Chic, visit www.wheeliechix-chic.com; Tanni&Anni at Rackety’s, call 01538 381 430 or visit www.racketys.com.