“Where There is a Will, There’s a Runway”
By: Hope Wilkos, Writer
Fashion gives each of us the ability to grow our imagination and expand the realm of our creativity. We take for granted that the possibilities are endless. Dare to dream and it will become a reality.
New York Fashion Week has come to an end after a week of spectacular collections revealed by renowned designers, but, this is only the beginning for some. A highlight to the week, the Runway of Dreams Foundation delivered an evening of joy and satisfaction on September 5, 2018 from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at Cipriani in New York City. The event consisted of a fashion show and gala. The uplifting event was proof that people with disabilities are broadening the fashion industry in aspiring ways. The runway was filled with such a diverse set of models, all possessing glistening eyes of happiness and massive smiles reaching from ear to ear.
Runway of Dreams Foundation is relatively new as compared to some of the other organizations today, however, they can boast a well-established purpose and goal and plenty of accomplishments. Mindy Scheier can take the credit for that. She is a fashion designer and mother of a child diagnosed with a rare form of muscular dystrophy at an early age. Asked by her son about wearing jeans to school one day and understanding how difficult it would be to take the jeans on and off, Mindy heard her calling and started this inspirational organization in 2014. Millions of people all over the world are struggling to access fashionable attire to meet their needs and Mindy was determined to make a difference in their lives. Obstacles are meant to be overcome.
Simply put, Runway of Dreams Foundation is a non-profit organization working towards future of inclusion, acceptance and opportunity in the fashion industry for people with disabilities. Mindy’s foundation develops, delivers and supports charitable initiatives to broaden the reach of adaptive clothing and promote the differently-abled community in the fashion industry. Through donations, employment opportunity initiatives, adaptive design workshops, awareness building campaigns and scholarship programs, Runway of Dreams is empowering those with disabilities in amazing ways – gifting them with opportunity, confidence, independence and style.
Some of the most beautiful models, inwardly and outwardly, walked the runway on this special evening at New York Fashion Week. Designers and companies offering pieces from their collections included Tommy Hilfiger, Target and Nike. The host of this fabulous presentation was actor/model RJ Mitte of the successful drama series, “Breaking Bad.” Mitte is no stranger to accepting life’s challenges and overcoming obstacles. He was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at the age of 3. On this evening, he commented, “I’m really excited to see all this inclusivity and all these strides to be diverse.”
A heartfelt welcome was given to US Navy SEAL, Jason Redman. He was wounded in battle while on a special operation in Iraq and has since founded his own fashion company known as Wounded Wear. On this noteworthy night, Jason was awarded, by Runway of Dreams Foundation, the Inspirational Achievement Award for his company. While accepting his award, he had this to say, “People underestimate the power of clothing, the power of wanting to feel good and look like everybody else around us. And that’s what this organization does. So to be here, to be an awardee, to be a part of it, it’s pretty awesome.”
Perhaps Mindy Scheier summed it up the best, “Fashion is a direct correlation to how we feel about ourselves, our confidence, our self-esteem.” “And if you don’t have that, if you don’t have options, it can really affect how you feel about yourself. So truly, clothing is a basic need. So, shouldn’t we all feel really good and have options like everybody else?”
What better place to roll out the red carpet of fashion dreams and aspirations than at New York Fashion Week!
Photo Credit: Noam Galai/Getty Images for Runway of Dreams Foundation.
