New York Fashion Week Promotes Diversity By Having Disabled Models On The Catwalk

I’m sure a lot of you have seen the hashtag #LFW branding your Instagram and Twitter timeline’s, which can only mean one thing. It’s fashion season.

In New York, we saw the only Kardashian who seems not to be on Amber Rose’s hit list, Kendall, blessing the catwalk with grace and style modeling for Diane von Fürstenberg’s Spring/Summer 2015 collection.

Even more surprising than a Kardashian launching a professional career was the use of disabled models in FTL Moda’s Autumn/Winter 2015 show. But they weren’t alone; Jamie Brewer became the first woman with Down syndrome to model in a catwalk as she hit the runway in Carrie Hammer’s show. In London, Jack Eyers, from Bournemouth, became the first male amputee to participate in fashion week also. Angel Sinclair, CEO of Models of Diversity – the organisation that was involved in pushing designers to include disabled models said it was “an amazing show” and the use of disabled models was something “that needed to be seen”.

The fashion industry has seen its fair share of unusual trends, from ‘the gap tooth’ to bushy eyebrows, but just how effective is introduction of disabled models in comparison?

After all, the sole purpose of a model is to sell the garments he/she is wearing and just how well can someone in a wheelchair sell a £5,000 dress or suit? To see how an item of clothing moves or falls on the body is a big part of selling it. It is understood that clothes look best on those with tall, slim frames, hence catwalk models having to be over a particular height and at a preferred weight. Though it is lovely to see such acceptance within a strict and shallow industry, are fashion designers jeopardising their creations to appear diverse in terms of models?

In an interview with Angel Sinclair, I raised these practical issues that may come with using disabled models and was quickly schooled, as she revealed you would get these problems with “any models” able-bodied or not. She also stated that these models “are trained to get in and out of these outfits quickly” just like the rest, and having worked with disabled models of all kinds for 5 years, she can vouch for their work ethic, claiming that they are just as quick and she’s “never heard them complaining”.

Whilst New York fashion week relished in their range of diverse models and celebrated differences, London fashion week rejected them. Angel referred to London fashion week’s refusal to include disabled models as “sad” and a “discrimination”, comparing it to “back in the 70s and 80s with black models, when they were hardly seen.”

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By Chelsea Mendez