A Fashion Show Unlike Any Other
“Life is a fashion show; the world is your runway.” -Marc Jacobs
Every year, Little People of America (LPA) has its national convention. It takes place in a different city every year and thousands of little people (LPs) attend. For me, it is a week of normalcy. I am surrounded by people who look like me, who understand what I go through on a daily basis as a little person living in an average-sized world. There are sporting events, medical conferences, excursions into the city, and dances every night. Due to COVID-19, the national convention in Austin could not proceed as planned. But, as they say in show business, the show must go on.
Rather than meet in person, LPA organized Virtualpalooza- a month-long series of virtual events including the annual fashion show. In years past, little people of all ages walked the runway in an outfit of their choosing, one that made them feel beautiful and powerful This year, rather than walk the runway in a hotel ballroom, members of the LPA community walked the runway in their homes.
To make the fashion show extra special, Lauren Humphries and Becky Kekula, the show’s organizers, invited members of the LPA community, myself included, to speak about the current state of the fashion industry for little people, how they find their confidence through clothing. The message was clear: we cannot and will not settle with how things are in the fashion industry any longer. Designers need to stop making excuses and learn to design for people with dwarfism. There needs to be greater representation in the media. To be the change we want to see in the world little people need to become the decision makers- the designers, the writers, the editors.
I had the opportunity to speak to Lauren and Becky and asked them about when their interest in fashion began, their involvement in the LPA fashion show, and the changes they would like to see in the fashion industry.
Where did your interest in fashion start?
From left to right: Becky Kekula and Lauren Humphries
Lauren: I’ve been interested in fashion for as long as I can remember. I used to sit mesmerized while my mom sewed wedding gowns and Halloween costumes and I loved picking out patterns and fabric with her. I used my allowance to buy a subscription to Vogue and filled sketchbooks with collages long before the existence of Pinterest.
My interest in fashion was aspirational but never passive. I always dreamed of walking on a runway, posing for a photo shoot, and being on both sides of the camera lens as a model and as an art director.
It wasn’t lost on me that I didn’t see anyone with dwarfism in the pages of fashion magazines or walking the runway. When I was in college, I started to reflect on and research the effects of the lack of positive representation not only in fashion but also in the media.
As a woman with dwarfism, I always kept the Harry Winston quote, “People will stare, make it worth their while,” in the back of my mind. If people were going to look at me out of interest or curiosity regardless, then I wanted them to also notice my sense of style or my athleticism. While my difference may have captivated them, I wanted to hold their attention on my terms.
Becky: One day, during my early teen years, I was wearing sweatpants and a t-shirt, and I was feeling sad. I had a friend who recommended that I dress up the next day. She knew that it would change my mood in a positive way. At an early age, I learned that dresses (above the knee on average height people) make me feel more confident than anything else I’ll ever wear. This slowly led to my interest in fashion. In July 2015, I was approached by a fashion designer to appear in her NYC Fashion Week Show, where she intentionally included one person with a disability in her line-up of professional business women, however scheduling didn’t work out and I look back with some regrets as it was a missed opportunity for me. However, I’ve been proud to be a part of the Annual Little People of America Fashion Show for the past decade.
How did the two of you get involved with planning the LPA fashion show?
Lauren & Becky: We actually met in person for the first time at the LPA Fashion Show in Washington, DC, so in a way, it felt meant to be when the CMC asked us to coordinate the show in 2015. Lauren has incredible event planning experience and Becky is an experienced public speaker.
In previous years, the models were all wearing their own clothing which had been altered, tailored, custom-made, or bought in the children’s department of their stores of choice. It became redundant to explain during the runway show that each participant was wearing their own clothing which they altered or had professionally altered. It was also disheartening and demeaning to say that adults were wearing children’s clothing.
We decided to focus on building confidence from the inside out by focusing on the models instead of the clothes. We encouraged the models to wear something that they felt confident in, whether that was an evening gown or a sports uniform. And we asked them to share what “beauty” or “being beautiful” meant to them. Their answers ranged from endearing to profound.
We also added the element of monologues by inviting influential members of LPA to share their thoughts on the topic of “beauty.” The monologues were powerful and poignant. The speakers bring incredible perspectives and ideas to the event by sharing their experiences and powerful calls to action.
Thank you to the amazing friendship we have built since we met virtually in 2011 and in-person in 2013, this mutual vision became a reality as we continue to co-host the Annual LPA Fashion Show.
Aside from the obvious, what made this fashion show different from fashion shows past?
Lauren & Becky: When we found out that it wouldn’t be possible for us to come together in Austin, Texas, this summer, we, along with the CMC, the LPA staff, and the Board of Directors all realized that we needed to find a new way to make these events happen.
We worked quickly to reimage the event virtually and had six weeks to bring it to life. For perspective, we usually start planning the live shows in January and have seven months to pull it all together. Since we couldn’t be on an actual runway, we encouraged models to “Make the World Their Runway.” We chose themes of diversity and inclusion for the monologues to set up our plans for next year’s Fashion Show in Baltimore.
What was the overall reaction to the show?
Lauren & Becky: The overall reaction to the show was incredibly positive. It was immensely gratifying to read and respond to comments in the live webinar as members of our community members shared positive reactions and encouragement with the models and speakers. Thank you to all of our amazing participants and our supportive audience. Our hope has always been that the show is empowering not only for the models but also for the audience.
Do you think the fashion industry has become more inclusive towards little people? Why or why not?
Lauren & Becky: We think that the changes in the fashion industry up to this point have been granular. We’re at a point where a small number of activists, advocates, artists, and entrepreneurs are bringing this issue to light, but we still have a lot of work to do.
It’s encouraging to see major fashion brands and retailers like Tommy Hilfiger, Target, Nike and Zappos create and sell adaptive clothing to fit a wider range of body types and abilities. We’re honored to serve on the Advisory Board of AUF AUGENHOEHE, a Berlin-based company that creates RTW clothing for people with dwarfism and is raising critical awareness about the inclusion of people with dwarfism in the fashion industry.
What changes do you want to see in the fashion industry? How do you see these changes happening?
Lauren & Becky: In addition to more RTW clothing for people with dwarfism, we’d like to see greater visibility and representation in advertising. Fashion is a driving force with the power to bring about positive change in our society by being inclusive and reflecting and celebrating diversity.
We encourage members of our community and our allies to use social media, blogs, and TED talks to share their ideas about diversity and inclusion in the fashion industry and to amplify the voices of the individuals and organizations who are driving positive change like Kathy Woods, Sinead Burke, Jillian Mercado, and others.
What do you think is in the store for the future of fashion and the LPA fashion show?
Lauren & Becky: In 2021, we will expand our focus to the models and the clothes. include advocacy for inclusion in the fashion industry and supporting fashion designers and brands that create RTW fashion for people with dwarfism.
Going forward, we plan to continue building relationships with fashion designers and brands who work with people with dwarfism to create RTW clothing. We hope that the LPA Fashion Show and other LPA programs will empower more members of our community to find their voice and advocate for inclusion in the fashion industry. We would also like to join forces with more disability fashion advocates to bring greater awareness to inspire and drive the changes we all want to see in this crazy world.
Thank you so much to Lauren and Becky for taking the time to speak with me, organizing an incredible fashion show, and inviting me to be a part of it.
In my video, I stated “As a community we need to stand together, explain who we are and what we can do and no longer tolerate an industry where exclusion is the norm.” While sitting on my couch watching the fashion show, seeing little people of all ages and sizes walk the runway, watching them exude confidence with every step and learning about what fashion means to them, I remember feeling immense pride in my community. Despite the circumstances, little people across the country came together to be seen, to have their voices heard. Consensus says enough is enough, the time for change is now.
To the designers, Writers, editors, and influencers in the fashion industry I have only one question: Are you listening?
