[This article originally published on Bergen County Moms, September 21, 2023. ]

First, I owe you this disclaimer: I don’t know much about fashion. I’m more the Andy than the Emily from The Devil Wears Prada, and most of my socks are from CVS. But over the past 8 years I have been immersed in disability, and what I will say with great confidence is that the world is becoming more accessible one strip of Velcro at a time.

A monumental show called Runway of Dreams took place during New York Fashion Week at Powerhouse Arts in Brooklyn, NY, and my son, Henry, who has a congenital upper limb difference, was one of 77 models who were slated to walk, strut, and roll down the runway for a magical night of unencumbered bliss. Retired NFL linebacker Shaquem Griffin emceed the 90-minute showcase for 11 mainstream clothing brands that are filling the void in accessible clothing options, not the least of which was the premier of Victoria’s Secret’s adaptive line of bras, panties, loungewear, and lingerie.

Show day was long. Models were instructed to arrive at 10:30am for the 7:00pm show, which ebbed and flowed between casual downtime and spikes of high-octane preparations. Between practice walks, meals, speeches, hair and makeup, interviews, and backstage visits from Shaquem Griffin, top fashion model Mayowa Nicholas, and Peloton instructor Logan Aldridge, the day flew. The conversation was rich, with models mixing between ages and disabilities, absorbing everything they could about each other and what motivated them to step into the spotlight. Some models were quite familiar with the industry, some were social media influencers, and some were motivational speakers comfortable taking center stage, but others like us were new and completely out of our elements—parents doing everything they could to entertain, nap, and regulate their children. There was little time that day to pause and reflect, but there was also no shortage of cameras rolling, with new footage continuing to unfurl across various media spaces.

Models, their assistants if they had one, and volunteers were all lined up behind the stage in order, by brand, for 7:00pm. From where we stood, I could see, hear, and feel all of the energy, watching presenters take deep breaths before stepping out onto the stage, wiping sweat from their brows afterward, and congratulating each other for their awards and charisma. Kid models were popping out of line to get sillies out of their systems, and content creators were holding their phones up, documenting every last jitter before taking the runway. Parents and loved ones had the extraordinary opportunity to attend New York Fashion Week and sit in the audience for the show, and some like me had what I would say was an even more extraordinary opportunity to guide their child(ren) down the runway for the moment of a lifetime.

The show in its entirety can be viewed here.

Why Adaptive Fashion?

Runway of Dreams Foundation was founded by fashion designer Mindy Scheier when she realized she had the professional skillset to help her son, who has muscular dystrophy, dress like his peers and not feel limited in his clothing options. Since that moment, nearly a decade ago, she has guided the fashion industry and consulted its designers in using their expertise to reach the 1 in 4 people who live with a disability, ultimately securing a spot during New York Fashion Week in 2018.

If it weren’t for this moment in fashion design, we wouldn’t have the Velcro and magnetic closures that have made traditionally buttoned or zippered items accessible to those with limited mobility. If it weren’t for this moment in fashion design, we wouldn’t have so many on-trend tagless clothes with flat seams for people with sensory sensitivities. We now have stylish shoes in all sizes that don’t require laces, shirts with flaps for feeding tubes and colostomy bags, pants with ankle snaps to accommodate leg braces, and so much more.

But have I mentioned the runway—how did we get here? It feels like yesterday that just as Henry had learned how to walk, he had surgery on his only hand and was casted for 4.5 weeks, leaving him to balance a heavy plaster cast and turn book pages with his toes. It feels like yesterday that he wasn’t admitted to a local preschool due to discriminatory “safety concerns” over his limb difference. And it was almost literally yesterday when I realized that we didn’t have any cool weather clothes he could navigate with one arm over his scoliosis brace, which is a custom molded plastic shell that wraps around his entire torso, with three straps securing it in the back.

We are in a beautiful place with Henry right now, where kids are curious about his arm but lose interest after a short time and just enjoy playing with him as a peer; his classmates over the years have embodied the very meaning of seeing a person for who they are, not what they look like. Many of the adults I spoke with at the Runway of Dreams show had different experiences growing up, and for them, being on display like this was a significant moment in their journeys of self-acceptance.

Odds are, you know someone with limited mobility or difficulties with sensory integration. Maybe your mom has been struggling to tie her shoes due to arthritis in her hands, or maybe a child in your life can’t concentrate in school when they feel a nagging seam in their shirt. Even adaptive clothing can still require modifications, which is very much true for my son at this stage of his life. Developing an item of clothing that meets the needs of every wearer isn’t feasible, so what brands are offering includes options that can make dressing for most wearers easier and more enjoyable. What a relief!

[You may continue reading, and may view Runway of Dreams video content of Henry with his mama, by clicking through to the FREE original Bergen County Moms article. Enjoy!]