In Italy, Olivia ’26 Finds Style and Substance

“I first became aware of accessible clothing as an issue when a friend of mine whose sibling has cerebral palsy was telling me about the challenges their family has trying to find clothes for them,” said Olivia. Cerebral palsy is a brain disorder that affects body movement and muscle coordination, making tasks like dressing more challenging. “I thought, ‘this doesn’t have to be so hard.’ So, my goal was to create a platform where people can find adaptive fashion options in one place.”

To accomplish that goal, Olivia traveled to Italy, to attend the Fashion Business Plan program at Polimoda, a fashion school in Florence. The program offered valuable insights into the business side of fashion, from supply and demand to marketing and distribution. And of course, she made time to take in the sites and history of Florence as well, with trips like a visit to the Gucci museum.

Considered among KUA’s highest honors, the Cullman Scholarship Program was established in 1983 with a gift from Hugh Cullman ’42 and supports students in off-campus study opportunities. In 2025, Olivia and nine other students were awarded scholarships to pursue an area of study of their choosing that develops leadership skills, global and environmental awareness, and service to others.

For Olivia, this meant setting out to address the needs of people like her friend’s sibling with cerebral palsy. Fueled by friendship, as well as her own experiences shopping for accessible, yet stylish clothing, she designed a hypothetical platform called “Dear Adaptive” that brings brands like Tommy Hilfiger, No Limbits, and Care + Ware together in one space for user convenience.

“I wanted it to kind of feel like the Amazon of adaptive clothing where you can go in and filter for exactly what you want, like tops for assisted dressing,” Olivia explained. “Things like side zippers, magnetic buttons, Velcro closures or other features that make dressing easier while still being fashionable.”

Olivia created a business plan, designed a website and, as the program’s culminating project, pitched her idea to a panel of investors and others currently working in the fashion industry. She said her presentation was well received and was vastly unique from classmates who pitched plans for fitness brands and professional-style clothing.

“I went up and it was genuinely probably one of the best presentations I’ve ever made,” said Olivia who at KUA is a dorm proctor; Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Leader; and president of the One Love Club. “The presentation was just aesthetically appealing, and I knew exactly what I was saying.”

Though Olivia said she’s more passionate now about the fashion industry than ever before, she doesn’t plan to pursue the field as potential career path. Instead, when she heads to St. Lawrence University next year, she plans to dual major in political science and business administration.

In the meantime, Olivia said she plans to make the most of her remaining days on The Hilltop — especially the upcoming tennis season — and fully embrace the community that’s made her feel so welcome the last for years.