Disabled people form part of the world’s biggest minority, but despite the community’s large size, these individuals are often shut out from the spotlight in their respective industries. The fashion industry, with its luxury runways and coveted exclusivity, is particularly guilty.
“I just love showing people that just because you’re in a wheelchair doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy fashion just as much as everyone else,” Sophie Bradbury-Cox, a disabled fashion content creator from the UK, said in her Instagram Story. Bradbury-Cox, an ardent fan of all things rainbow and leopard print, is one of many disabled influencers across the globe making strides for the visibility of disabled people in fashion, just like models Emily Barker and Aaron Rose Philip, who have worked with brands Moschino, Collina Strada, and Maisie Wilen during Fashion Week.
“There should be more than one disabled person in each show. Designers should include disabled people as a norm, not just a one-time thing, and they should make all of their stores, shoots, and runways accessible,” Barker said to POPSUGAR in a 2021 interview.
Though much work remains to be done so disabled representation on runways and in modeling campaigns is the norm and not an exception, the influencers ahead are creating their own spaces for disabled people in fashion.
Scroll to learn more about how they’re shaking things up while showcasing their unique senses of style and calling for representation. If you’re in dire need of refreshing outfit inspiration on your Instagram feed, following these folks will definitely help you out there, too.
