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WCAG 2.2 · ADA · European Accessibility Act

Accessibility compliance, built for fashion.

Mid-market fashion and apparel brands face increasing scrutiny around digital accessibility. We help you identify issues, meet compliance standards, and build lasting inclusive experiences.

$5.15M
Fashion Nova Settlement
A class-action settlement in 2025 following findings that blind customers using screen readers were unable to complete purchases on their eCommerce site.
94.8%
Sites with detectable issues
Of the top one million websites tested in the 2025 WebAIM report, 94.8% contained at least one automatically detectable WCAG failure on the homepage alone.

The compliance landscape

Fashion and apparel eCommerce carries elevated accessibility risk.

Complex product filtering, image-heavy galleries, and multi-step checkout flows are among the most commonly cited sources of accessibility barriers in eCommerce — and fashion brands build all three. Proactive compliance demonstrates good-faith effort, which matters significantly in any legal or regulatory review.

1,025
Fashion and apparel brands were named in ADA-related web accessibility complaints in 2025 — the highest of any eCommerce category.
45%
Of filed complaints in 2025 involved companies that had previously been cited. Documented remediation and ongoing monitoring significantly reduce repeat exposure.
June 2025
The European Accessibility Act began enforcement. US brands selling to EU customers are now subject to EN 301 549 requirements, with fines up to €100,000 per violation.

What we commonly find

Common accessibility issues in fashion eCommerce.

Our audits consistently surface the same categories of issues across mid-market fashion and apparel sites. These are not edge cases — they appear on the majority of sites we review.

Missing or poor alt text on product images
Product photography, lifestyle images, and promotional banners frequently lack descriptive alternative text, leaving screen reader users without meaningful context for purchasing decisions.
WCAG 1.1.1 — Non-text Content
Inaccessible product filters and navigation
Filter drawers, size selectors, color swatches, and mega-navigation menus are frequently built without keyboard support or proper ARIA roles, making them unusable without a mouse.
WCAG 2.1.1 — Keyboard · 4.1.2 — Name, Role, Value
No visible keyboard focus indicator
Many fashion sites suppress the default browser focus ring for aesthetic reasons. This makes keyboard-only navigation — used by motor-impaired users and power users alike — effectively impossible.
WCAG 2.4.7 — Focus Visible · 2.4.11 — Focus Not Obscured
Insufficient color contrast
Light-on-light typography — common in minimal fashion aesthetics — frequently fails the 4.5:1 contrast ratio required for body text. Sale badges, overlaid product text, and ghost buttons are repeat offenders.
WCAG 1.4.3 — Contrast (Minimum)
Checkout forms without proper labels
Floating label patterns that clear on input entry, missing error identification, and fields without programmatic labels are prevalent in fashion checkout flows and create significant barriers for screen reader users.
WCAG 1.3.1 — Info and Relationships · 3.3.1 — Error ID
Missing or incorrect heading structure
Product pages, category pages, and homepages frequently skip heading levels or use decorative elements styled as headings, disrupting screen reader navigation and reducing SEO clarity simultaneously.
WCAG 1.3.1 — Info and Relationships · 2.4.6 — Headings

Our process

Structured, continuous, and built around your product cycle.

01
Audit
We conduct a comprehensive WCAG 2.2 AA audit combining automated scanning tools with manual keyboard and screen reader testing. Every critical violation is documented with reproduction steps, WCAG criterion, severity, and a clear remediation recommendation.
02
Remediate
We work with your development team to implement structural fixes — not overlay patches. Every recommendation is written to be developer-actionable, with specific guidance on the correct semantic HTML and ARIA patterns to apply.
03
Monitor
New product launches, seasonal campaigns, and A/B tests all introduce new content and interactions. Your monthly retainer keeps accessibility reviewed as your site evolves — catching regressions before they become documented issues.

Why Elementum UX

Design expertise applied to compliance.

Most accessibility vendors approach auditing as a technical checklist exercise. We bring a UX design lens — which means we understand how fashion eCommerce is built, what trade-offs were made, and how to implement accessible patterns that respect your aesthetic.

WCAG 2.2 AA standard
All audits are conducted against WCAG 2.2 AA — the current legal benchmark for ADA compliance and EN 301 549 conformance. We include the seven new 2.2 success criteria that many vendors still overlook.
Manual and automated testing
Automated tools catch approximately 30–40% of accessibility issues. The rest require manual keyboard testing, screen reader evaluation, and contextual judgment. We do both — and document the difference.
US and EU coverage
If your brand sells to European customers, the European Accessibility Act applies. Our audits map to both ADA requirements and EN 301 549 — one engagement covers both jurisdictions.

Engagements

Three ways we work with you.

Every engagement begins with a complimentary site scan. From there, we offer a clear path from initial audit to ongoing compliance monitoring.

Complimentary
Accessibility Site Scan
We review your site and return a summary of the most significant accessibility issues affecting compliance and usability — at no cost and with no commitment required.
  • Automated scan of key pages
  • Top accessibility issues identified
  • WCAG criterion mapping
  • Delivered within 48 hours
Free / no obligation
One-time engagement
Full Compliance Audit
A comprehensive WCAG 2.2 AA audit combining automated and manual testing across all key user journeys — with a prioritized remediation roadmap your team can act on immediately.
  • Full WCAG 2.2 AA assessment
  • Manual keyboard and screen reader testing
  • Developer-ready remediation tickets
  • Severity-ranked issue report
  • EU EAA / EN 301 549 gap analysis
From $1,500 / one-time
Ongoing partnership
Monthly Retainer
Accessibility is not a one-time project. Your retainer ensures new features, campaigns, and content updates are reviewed against WCAG standards before they ship.
  • Monthly accessibility reviews
  • New feature and campaign checks
  • Regression monitoring
  • Remediation support and guidance
  • Compliance documentation
From $1,200 / month

Industry context

What increasing enforcement looks like in practice.

$5.15M
Fashion Nova
Class-action settlement following findings that blind customers relying on screen readers encountered persistent barriers completing purchases. Among the largest fashion accessibility settlements on record.
2025
$1M
FTC v. accessiBe
The FTC settled with the largest accessibility overlay provider for misleading marketing claims. Automated overlay widgets have not been found to satisfy ADA compliance requirements.
2025
37%
Year-over-year increase
ADA-related web accessibility complaints increased 37% in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. Enforcement activity is accelerating across all eCommerce categories.
2025
We already have an accessibility widget installed.
Automated overlay widgets have been consistently found insufficient by courts and regulators. 22% of 2025 complaints named sites with overlays installed. Structural remediation is the only durable solution.
Our site was built recently — shouldn't it already be compliant?
Recency does not guarantee compliance. Most eCommerce platforms and front-end frameworks produce inaccessible patterns by default. WCAG 2.2 compliance requires intentional implementation.
Do we need both US and European compliance?
If your site is accessible to US customers with disabilities, the technical foundation for EU compliance is largely in place. We audit against both frameworks simultaneously.

Complimentary · no commitment · 48 hours

Request a complimentary site scan.

We'll review your site and identify the key accessibility issues most likely to affect compliance and usability. No sales call required to receive your results.

Request received.

Thank you — we will review your site and be in touch within 48 hours with your accessibility summary. Please check your inbox.

No credit card required
Results within 48 hours
WCAG 2.2 standard

Data sources

All statistics cited on this page are drawn from publicly available legal filings, regulatory reports, and independent industry research.

[1]EcomBack 2025 Annual ADA Website Accessibility Lawsuit Report. ecomback.com
[2]Fashion Nova $5.15M ADA class-action settlement. Home Furnishings Association
[3]FTC $1M settlement with accessiBe, 2025. A11y Pros
[4]UsableNet 2025 Mid-Year Report. usablenet.com
[5]WebAIM Million 2025 — 94.8% of homepages contain detectable WCAG failures. beaccessible.com
[6]European Accessibility Act enforcement commenced June 28, 2025. allaccessible.org