Fashion runways ditching old rules, embracing disabled models and wild cardboard designs

Runways used to be all about one kind of beauty. But now, something cool is happening: designers are finally showcasing models with disabilities and even creating outfits from cardboard. It's a seriously fresh take on what fashion can be.

Take Vietnam, for example. They just hosted their first-ever Disability Fashion Show, part of a project called "Wardrobe of Kindness." Over 50 models, all with different disabilities, rocked the stage. Imagine the feeling when Le Thi Dien, a model using a wheelchair, got to strut her stuff in custom clothes. She said it gave her and others a huge boost in confidence.

April Lockhart, who has a limb difference, started Disabled&, a community pushing for more disabled people in fashion. She wants brands to feature disabled models all the time, not just for special events. Lockhart shared how powerful it felt to finally be in a room full of other disabled people, something she'd never experienced before.

Clever Designs and Big Impact

Meanwhile, fashion student Karlee Angel organized a show called "The Struttin' for PAWS." Her classmates designed "adopt me" vests for dog models, raising money for an animal shelter. It’s a smart way to help animals find homes while showing off some creative design.

Then there's Jack Eyers, a model and Paralympian who's been breaking down walls for years. He was the first disabled man to walk in New York Fashion Week back in 2015. He even became the first amputee to win Mr. England. Eyers, who had an amputation at 16, used to try and hide his disability. Now, he’s all about inspiring others to own who they are. And get this: at Willamette University, students are making "Cardboard Couture." Professor David Eckard challenges freshmen to design entire runway outfits using only cardboard. It's super sustainable, easy on the student budget, and lets them experiment without fear. If a design flops, they just grab more cardboard. How clever is that?