Hammersmith made fashion history by hosting a show where clothing was designed for disabled bodies.
The recent Future of Fashion event at Kindred in Hammersmith featured designer Kat Paylor-Bent's 'Feel Seen 25' collection.
The line made UK fashion history by adding braille descriptions using Swarovski crystals.
"Most fashion is made for people who can walk," said Kat, who founded inclusive fashion brand Seated Sewing uses a wheelchair herself.
She added: "Fashion should work for everyone, not the other way around."
The catwalk featured a diverse range of models of all abilities, including war veterans and wheelchair users, to show how adaptive fashion can work for everyone.
H&F Mayor Cllr Patricia Quigley, who also took to the runway, said:
Kat's designs show how reasonable adjustments can be both practical and beautiful. My own Mayoral robe was designed to be inclusive, accessible and fashionable for my specific body shape and for me to feel fabulous wearing it!
As Mayor and a Disabled woman, I'm proud this event was hosted in Hammersmith and even better that I got to strut my stuff on the catwalk."
Fashion that functions
Kat became disabled 17 years ago after a simple everyday action. Now, the Durham-based designer uses her experience to create clothing that works for disabled bodies.
"When I became disabled, my clothes didn't fit because my body changed," she explained.
"When you're a wheelchair user, you lose muscle tone, widen in places, get catheters or nasal feeding tubes – and suddenly you need to access parts of your body most people would never have to."
She added: "Our designs make us feel like humans, not patients."
The collection includes practical features like zips to easily access medical devices like catheters or colostomies, all while ensuring the wearer's dignity is kept intact.
Each garment also contains braille descriptions running the length of the dress, explaining the fabric, style and fit.
Power duo
The event was brought to life by disability champion and entrepreneur, Samanta Bullock.
The former wheelchair tennis player won silver at the 2007 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and has modelled at fashion weeks in London, Dubai and New York. She said:
"Fashion is a tool for social transformation. We cannot create what we do not know – that's why representation in this space is so important."
Their partnership showed the female leadership celebrated during Women's History Month in Hammersmith & Fulham. The annual event celebrates the achievements of women changing lives in the borough and beyond.
