“Ch-ch-changes” indeed. (With a loving nod to Bowie.) EvenVOGUE recently had to admit that a “revolution” is on in fashion. “Inclusivity” is the watchword, with an emphasis on being true to yourself. It’s a trend fueled by a new sense of acceptance, culturally led by everyone from Amy Schumer to Caitlyn Jenner to super-blogs like Man Repeller … all “disruptors” who — one way or another — have been posing a potent challenge to the status quo.
The Fashion Revolution: From Models With Down’s Syndrome To Body Acceptance
The trend has come to fashion in a big way: This the era of your style. Your look. Your body type. Even, your “disability.”
At the forefront of this ideal is FTL Moda – which turns 10 in 2016 – one of the most acclaimed platforms for SS16, featuring models such as Madeline Stuart, the model with Down’s Syndrome, Jack Eyers, nominated Man of the Year by Men’s Health Magazine, Rebekah Marine, the bionic model, and Shaholly Ayers the first model to walk in NYFW without a prosthesis.
Shaholly — a congenital amputee — suffered horrible bullying when she was a child. At age 18 she left her native Ohio to become a role model for the many who would have never believed they had a shot in the industry. She is also a 2016 brand ambassador for Global Disability Inclusion, who has partnered with FTL Moda for the past two years to bring disability to NYFW. Shaholly’s journey has been shaped by this partnership and she has modeled in Milan Fashion Week, for Nordstrom and Wilhelmina.
These models have already paraded to showcase emerging and established international designers to general applause and industry appreciation, garnering press in everything from Vogue Italia to US Magazine toCosmopolitan to E! Online, Today.com … among many others.
FTL Moda is preparing for its FW2016 runway presentation of international designers at New York Fashion Week on February 15th.
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