Models with Disability ‘Strut their Stuff’ on the Runway

The fashion industry has long been criticized for promoting a negative image of beauty and this has led to a shared assumption that the fashion world is shallow and judgmental.

However, this year we have seen designers who want to change this negative perception of the fashion industry by embracing diversity on the runway.

Designers Antonio Urzi (Italy) and Takafumi Tsuruta (Japan) are making history by casting runway models with physical disabilities for their collections.

Antonio Urzi was the first designer to showcase his inspiring runway collection with his fashion label FTL MODA on February 15th this year. The show dubbed “FTL Moda Loving You” featured wheel-chair bound beauties, amputees and models on crutches from around the world that boldly and fiercely made fashion statements on the catwalk.

Takafumi Tsuruta followed suit with his Tenbo Fall 2015 collection during the Mercedes-Benz fashion week in Tokyo that was held in March (16^th -21^st).

The designer also went ahead to cast models in wheelchairs, amputees and one blind beauty to show off his amazing designs for the collection.

Tsuruta was creative and strategic in his choice of materials as some of his designs came with magnetic buttons to allow the wearers to take the clothes off easily.

PERCEPTION OF BEAUTY

The inclusion of handicapped beauties and models with disability on the runway is a significant gesture for the fashion industry as this will change the way we perceive beauty.

It is refreshing to see big names in the fashion industry take the lead in embracing diversity and presenting those that are not regarded in the world as symbols of beauty.

After all, we cannot all look like the 6-foot tall skinny models that we are used to seeing on the runway and magazine covers.

Kudos to all fashion designers who take the time to incorporate designs that serve people from different walks of life!

Let’s hope that your work will encourage young women to recognize and appreciate their beauty, irrespective of what society has imposed on them.

We remain optimistic that these two designers will not be the last designers to cast runway models with physical disabilities.

Their efforts will provide a platform to remind designers, stylists, editors and others in the fashion industry to interlace creativity, thought and purpose in their work.