Today we’re bringing you two awesome stories from the fashion world.
1. Danielle Sheypuk becomes the first person to model at New York Fashion Week in a wheelchair.
In one giant leap for inclusion, Danielle Sheypuk, Ms. Wheelchair New York 2012, has become the first person to “walk” the New York Fashion Week runway in a wheelchair.
Sheypuk modelled for designer Carrie Hammer, who wanted to feature “role models not runway models” in her collection.
“It is so important to me that women have positive body image and are empowered in work and their life. My line makes dresses to fit women. We don’t make dresses that women need to fit into,” Hammer said in an email interview with The Huffington Post.
Of the experience Sheypuk said: “I was just another model in a show, and that’s exactly what I wanted.”
“People with disabilities need to see it. It’s a confidence booster. It’s like, ‘if she’s doing it, I can do it. Who cares about my wheelchair?'”
2. Debbie van der Putten lands department store campaign
Dutch model Debbie van der Putten is an amputee, who lost her arm in a motor accident at 19.
She’s also one of the stars of top Dutch department store de Bijenkorf’s Spring campaign.
She tweeted:
@ModsOfDiversity have u seen the new @deBijenkorf campaign #disabledmodel pic.twitter.com/IojgoVmkNf
— Debbie vander Putten (@DebsMod) February 26, 2014