![]() It’s so exciting to see the impact that our mission has had in such a short amount of time. Since then, Target, Kohl’s, Stride Rite and Nike have all moved into the Adaptive space. In 2016, Runway of Dreams partnered with Tommy Hilfiger to create fashion history by creating the first ever mainstream adaptive clothing line for kids which is now Tommy Hilfiger Adaptive and is available for both kids and adults. It took time to change mindsets, leading the fashion houses to understand the social responsibility and business opportunity associated with providing clothing options to this underserved population. This necessitated educating fashion executives about the potential spending power of people with disabilities and the fact that modifications could be made to mainstream clothing to make them more wearable for people with disabilities. In 2014 mainstream brands did not offer adaptive clothing options. How has Runway of Dreams revolutionized the fashion space? We gave him one of the magnetic front closure shirts to try on and he said to me “Can you imagine that I am 15 years old and this is the first time I have been able to dress myself?” To be part of someone’s experience like that, is indescribable. One of the participants was a 15 year- old boy named Liam who had Muscular Dystrophy and had been in a wheelchair his entire life. What stories from the foundation have left the biggest impression on you?ĭuring one of our original fit sessions, we brought in both kids and adults with all different types of disabilities. That night I modified his jeans so that he could wear them to school, he showed an immediate change in his confidence, and opened my eyes to the fact that everyone deserves to wear what they want to wear and feel as confident as they possibly could! So in 2014, I launched Runway of Dreams with a “small” goal of changing the fashion industry to be inclusive of people with disabilities. When he communicated to me that he wanted to wear something else besides sweatpants, it was very clear that wearing sweatpants was affecting his confidence. But, because of his Muscular Dystrophy, he struggled to be able to do buttons and to fit his leg braces under the jeans. At 8 years old, Oliver communicated that he wanted to wear jeans like everyone gets to wear. ![]() I am a fashion designer by trade and mom of a child with Muscular Dystrophy. One of the driving forces that led me to start Runway of Dreams was my experience with my son Oliver. The Evolution of Runway of DreamsĬan you share with us the origin story of Runway of Dreams? She talks about why she started the non-profit and what adaptive clothing means to her. ![]() ![]() Care+Wear has exclusively interviewed Mindy Scheier, Founder and CEO of Runway of Dreams. ![]()
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