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A fashion revolution brings adaptable fashion to the catwalk
Runway of Dreams presented A Fashion Revolution, focused on the latest in adaptive fashion. Adaptive fashion is everyday clothing made for people with disabilities and includes features like modified closures made with magnets or snaps and slip-on shoes that fasten with Velcro instead of laces. | Photographs by Jerod Harris/Getty Images
The 8th of March, catwalk of dreamsa non-profit organization that works for the inclusion of all in the fashion industry, organized A fashion revolution in the majestic center in Los Angeles, focused on the latest styles and trends in adaptive fashion. The organization aims to raise awareness of adapted clothing for people with disabilities to achieve one goal: change in the fashion industry.
Runway of Dreams was founded in 2013 by Mindy Scheier, a fashion designer by trade and mother of a son with muscular dystrophy. Scheier feels that there is no better way to change the mindset of the fashion industry than on the runway.
Adaptive fashion includes everyday clothing items that anyone can wear, but that include features such as modified closures made with magnets or snaps instead of zippers and buttons, which require more dexterity, and shoes with more room under the tongue to make them more comfortable. easier to get. lace-up or lace-up completely in favor of slip-ons with velcro straps
Hosted by actress and activist Jamie Chung, A Fashion Revolution featured over 70 models of varying backgrounds, ages and disabilities modeling adaptive clothing from a mix of mainstream and emerging brands in the adaptive space, including the event’s presenting sponsor, Kohl’sas much as Goal, Zappos.com, JCPenney, tommy hilfiger adaptable, stride rite, unlimited, Wyatt Wear, minor details Y be free.
Even with the push for inclusivity in fashion, people with disabilities and adapted fashion have been marginalized between the rise of body positivity movements and calls for more diversity in the industry.
“Raising awareness is the main reason we have events like this: to show that people with disabilities are the largest minority on our planet that people seem to forget about,” Scheier said. “To be able to have something that big and flashy really changes the perspective that disability should and should be included when you talk about inclusion.”
Model Danny J. Gomez, a wheelchair user, participated in the show and mentioned that the term “adaptable clothing” is universal to everyone who wears clothes because if something doesn’t fit you, it can be “adapted” to make you fit. fit well . He said an event like the Runway of Dreams show reminds people that fashion should be inclusive of everyone because everyone wants to look good.
“We want clothes that look good and work for our daily needs. Certain brands make clothes that are practical for our daily use, but not necessarily elegant,” said Gómez.
TaMyah Jordan, who is visually impaired, walked the runway modeling jeans, a tank top and a pair of high-heeled wedges from Target. Jordan, who mentioned that she dances and competes in track and field and cheerleading, said that she was happy to be a part of the event because she helps change the idea of what people with disabilities can and cannot do.
“It is very important for me to be a part of this because I am always questioned about how I do what I do, or how it shouldn’t be possible. But it is possible. I just have to do things differently,” Jordan said.
Dana Zumbo, business development manager for the Adaptive Team at Zappos, said the program provides a good opportunity to shine a light on inclusion for all and said it’s important to work with people with disabilities to open up the dialogue about what their needs are when be necessary. comes to fashionable and functional clothing.
“At the end of the day, it is our responsibility as a retailer to offer choice to all people. People with disabilities want to dress and express themselves in whatever style they want, and there just haven’t been any options,” Zumbo said.
The highlight of the event, in a night full of highlights, was when Ukrainian model Oksana Kononets took to the catwalk. Scheier had mentioned that Runway of Dreams had been working for four years to bring Kononets to the US for a show, and she was set to attend before the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Kononets, along with her mother, traveled from the Ukraine to Poland and arrived in Los Angeles two days before the fashion show, receiving a standing ovation as she walked the runway in a daring yellow top.
The adaptive fashion market is expected to exceed $400 billion by the end of 2027, with growing demand for adaptive clothing from the fashion industry.
“We partnered with Tommy Hilfiger in 2016 and did a show with them, and now in 2022 we have almost ten brands that believe in this movement and the fact that adaptive fashion is not an initiative, it’s a business opportunity,” he said. Scheier.
Source: www.apparelnews.net