Finally, companies are making the required efforts to demonstrate their inclusivity.
In recent years, we have seen fashion companies move away from what used to be their typical model – a skinny white woman – and move towards more diverse models to match their audience. Even though we have acknowledged this, there are still a number of underrepresented groups, including persons with disabilities.
Victoria’s Secret just debuted their first model with Down syndrome, and now a different company is commemorating a significant occasion with the introduction of their baby line.
Banana Republic has included a baby boy with Down syndrome in their latest campaign.
Thank you @bananarepublic for #changingthefaceofbeautyPosted by Changing the Face of Beauty on Saturday, March 5, 2022
“The BR Baby collection recently launched by Banana Republic was designed with a promise to be more sustainable, more welcoming, and more inclusive,” the company said in a statement.
“We want to celebrate diversity in all forms and in the casting for BR Baby we saw a perfect moment to move this forward. We were thrilled to give this beautiful, loving human his first modeling job.”
So cute!
Katie Driscoll, the founder and president of Changing the Face of Beauty, said the organization, which is committed to equal representation of people with disabilities in the media, said she was “thrilled” brands were speaking to the disabled community with their ads.
“So often our community is overlooked when diversity is being considered, fact is the disability community is the largest minority in the world and one in 5 families know or love someone with a disability. Being seen in the world we live in is vital to our future.”
When a brand incorporates a person with a disability, I hope one day that it becomes the norm rather than something to be celebrated.
