7th NYFW Event for Runway of Dreams, Promoting Inclusivity in the Fashion Industry

Tiya Antony
Fashion News Editor

Runway of Dreams is a foundation, starting in 2014, that is focused on empowering people with disabilities to have confidence and express themselves through inclusive fashion. The founder of the Runway of Dreams foundation, Mindy Scheier, worked in the fashion industry for 20 years before creating her own company. Scheier’s son, Oliver, has Muscular Dystrophy and he expressed his dream of wearing jeans. Scheier made her own pair of jeans for her son so that they would suit his needs, and this opened her heart to make the same dream come true for others. Scheier stresses the importance of fashion for confidence and how it is significant for shoppers with disabilities as well. Self-expression is a crucial component to fashion and people with disabilities are often not given a wide range of options to feel included and empowered though clothing.

In 2018, Tommy Hilfiger was the first global fashion company that worked with Runway of Dreams to create a collection that accommodates people with disabilities. Tommy Hilfiger focused on providing adaptive clothing for kids and ever since companies like Kohl’s, Target, JCPenney, and more have partnered with Runway of Dreams to create inclusive fashion.

In 2023, the Runway of Dreams marked the seventh annual event at New York Fashion Week. The show, called A Fashion Revolution, was important to display the adaptive fashion that big brands and upcoming companies are creating. Over sixty models walked the show with various disabilities while Shaquem Griffin, former NFL linebacker, hosted the show. It was also the first time that Victoria’s Secret and Pink have collaborated to create the first adaptive intimates’ collection. Lydia Smith is the Chief Diversity Officer at Victoria’s Secret and commented “I think what’s most important now is that we’re creating a space to have the conversation” about diversity in the fashion industry and including adaptive clothing. This huge milestone with Victoria’s Secret and Pink displays the increasing commitment that the fashion industry is making towards inclusivity and creating authentic products. In addition to the Fashion Revolution’s show by the Runway of Dreams, there was an adaptive exhibit at Hudson Yards as well. The exhibit further highlighted brands and fashion trends that are devoted to providing inclusive clothing that is fashionable and allows for self-expression. This event allowed the discussion to involve the larger public in order to make collective decisions in promoting inclusion.

Mindy Scheier also created the Gamut Talent Management (GAMUT) which focuses on consulting with brands to represent people with disabilities and be accredited properly for developing meticulous products that follow proper requirements. In other words, GAMUT represents people with disabilities so that they can have a voice with brands and businesses that wish to represent the group properly. GAMUT is also dedicated to creating opportunities in film, television, modeling, and product development for people with disabilities. Scheier continues to be dedicated in providing more opportunities and fashion inclusive clothing for people with disabilities, through the ever-expanding Runway of Dreams foundation and Gamut Talent Management.

Contact Tiya at antonyti@shu.edu