New York Fashion Week: Meet Runway’s First Model with Down Syndrome
- Maria Myka
- Feb 13, 2015 06:23 AM EST
- Sign up to receive the lastest news from LATINONE
-
"American Horror Story" actress, Jamie Brewer is making fashion history for being the first model with Down Syndrome to ever walk the runway for Carrie Hammer during the prestigious New York Fashion Week, as reported by CNN.
According to the the Genetic Science Learning Center, down syndrome is a common genetic disorder that affects one out of 800 to 1,000 babies.
Brewer's involvement in the fashion week came when Hammer recruited her to walk her fashion show at the New York Fashion Week in line with her campaign called "Role Models Not Runway Models" which highlights women who are truly making a difference in the world. It is a movement that the designer started last year (her first time to have a show at the Fashion Week), Hammer wanted real women to represent her clothes and brand.
However it was unintentional that her first time to show her designs at the Fashion Week became a big campaign in the fashion world. She said, "I called up my existing clients who were all incredible women, and one of them happened to be a doctor and a sex therapist who happened to be in wheelchair. It was never intended to be this incredible statement."
The dress that Hammer designed for the actress is something that she felt emphasizes Brewer's qualities, especially in her craft. On her decision to include Brewer in her show, she said, "Jamie is an activist for intellectual disabilities, she is a writer and artist and amazing actress."
As for the dress she designed for the actress, E! News noted that she decided to go with the "American Horror Story" concept. She said about her creation, "American Horror Story is dark, scary, bewitching so we had to go with black and Jamie has a beautiful body with a teeny waist and curves and we went with an A-line,"
Brewer, an advocate for people with intellectual disabilities, was also excited to wear Hammer's creation, saying, "Many women have many sides to their personality. This dress fits ... mine. I am honored to be in it."
She is also aware that people look up to her, and she admits to being equally inspired by them. As she told Today, "Young girls and even young women ... (see me) and say, 'hey, if she can do it, so can I'. It's a true inspiration being a role model for any young women to (encourage them) in being who they are and showing who they are."
What do you think of Carrie Hammer's advocacy for the New York Fashion Week?
- Sign up to receive the lastest news from LATINONE
-