The fashion industry has long been criticised for failing to represent and design for people with a disability; however, in recent years, mainstream fashion brands and events have begun to incorporate inclusive designs and models with disabilities. In the past month, adaptive fashion events were held as part of Melbourne Fashion Week and New York Fashion Week, showing designs from brands such as Tom Ford, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Nike, Target and Kmart. While the industry still has a long way to go, platforms like Instagram mean that we don’t have to wait to admire the style of fashion influencers like Sinéad Burke, Grace Mandeville, and Jillian Mercado.
*Photo: Appearance advocate Carly Findlay speaks at the Access to Fashion event in Melbourne.
ABC Gippsland: Rachael Lucas