FINALLY

This was me watching last week’s episode of Project Runway…

It finally happened. Project Runway finally listened to my thoughts and prayers and challenged their contestants to design for “real” women (non-models) with a disability. Well...some of them. Let me explain...

Last week, the final six were given the challenge to design a victory party dress for six inspirational Olympians and Paralympians. These athletes represented a wide range of body types and, for the most part, the designers seem excited to create a garment for them. In contrast to seasons past, the designers wanted to really design for their clients rather than push them into something they don’t want. Moreover, the designers wanted to enhance rather than hide what made each body unique . While four designers were on the bottom, no one was out. The reason? Every woman, from the moment they stepped onto the runway, looked and felt confident and beautiful. During the critiques, the athletes kept reiterating at how impressed they were of the designers, accomplishing a feat they always thought was impossible.  

I’m not going to critique every single design although I do want to give special mention to Nancy, who won the challenge, for going above and beyond in designing the dress for Tatyana McFadden- a track and field Paralympian with spina bifida. Nancy made a gown that was both incredibly fashionable and functional (and I was LIVING for the train). 

Yet, as proud as I was to see the spotlight shine on people with disabilities, I still felt unrepresented. Of the six athletes chosen, three were disabled and none had dwarfism. With the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics on the horizon and the push for inclusion in the fashion industry is only getting stronger, I felt that Project Runway could have had a major moment- challenging all their designers to design for someone with a disability. What I’m saying does not diminish the significance of this challenge. Yes, only three individuals with a disability were featured, but it’s three more than in the previous 18 seasons. I’ve said it before, people with disabilities comprise the largest minority in the world yet remain on the fringes in fashion. 

We all know the saying “If it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you.” To the producers of Project Runway, next season challenge all of your designers to design for clients with a disability, it just may change the industry.