On Feb. 6, the Discovery Through Design chairwomen Marilyn Hamilton, Wendy Crawford, Julia Stockton Dorsett and Ashley Lauren Fisher and four roll models strolled the runway using a Quickie wheelchair designed by one of the participating designers, along with top fashion models.
Designers, including Marc Bouwer, Baby Phat, Thom Browne, Stephan Cori, St.John, Yang Toi, Lloyd Klein and Nicole Miller, created custom wheelchairs echoing the styles of their collections, and included fashion-forward detailing such as extravagant upholstery in animal prints, gold chain detailing, funky pink Swarovski crystal-laden footrests, rhinestone hubs and ultra-chic coordinating purses and backpacks.
Hamilton, co-founder of Quickie wheelchairs, says, “This was a historic event celebrating the lifestyles and successes of women who do not let their disabilities or wheelchairs get in the way of accomplishing amazing dreams while at the same time raising money for women’s health initiatives and spinal cord injury research.”
The four “roll models” were Michele Boardman, Melissa Holley, Rosemarie Rossetti, Ph.D., and Jenny Smith. The proceeds of the event benefit The Christopher Reeve Foundation, The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis and The Spinal Cord Injury Project at Rutgers University.
This event marked the first time that mainstream fashion designers collaborated with women using wheelchairs, combining high fashion and assistive technology.
A portion of the night was also devoted to spotlighting the many successful women with disabilities throughout the audience. Hamilton says, “We saw 25 amazing women from all over the country who are living their lives to the fullest.”
Twenty-three-year-old journalist Santina Muha, one of the featured women, said, “I have always wanted to be included in New York’s Fashion Week. It’s about time a successful event like this got as much mainstream attention as it did.”
Representing not only women with spinal cord injuries, but also women in the military, Army SFC Eva Diane Cochran received the “Rolling with Style” Award. Cochran, a wheelchair-user, injured two years ago in Afghanistan, and mother of an American soldier currently stationed in Iraq, has been placed in many leadership positions throughout her military career, including Squad Leader of her basic training platoon and Platoon Sergeant. Cochran continues to excel, earning two gold medals in track and archery and a silver medal in weight lifting at the 2006 National Veteran’s Wheelchair Games.
Other attendees included Dr. Ruth, Debra Gibson, ABC’s “The Bachelor” Prince Lorenzo Borghese, Catherine Forbes as well as 2006 Miss Universe Zuleyka Rivera.
“Through her visionary leadership,” Marcie Roth, CEO of the National Spinal Cord Injury Association, commented, “Marilyn Hamilton has moved women with disabilities from the perception of limited value and few opportunities to a future that has no limits.”
Up and coming singer and Grammy nominee Shani Rigsbee rocked the house, and the “Original Pop Princess” Debra Gibson gave a truly inspired closing performance.
Gibson stated, “This event honors all women. There is so much in the news today about women’s size and shape. This event shows that there are no limitations. It truly celebrates all women.”
On Friday, “CBS Early Show” aired a “day in the life” segment of Fisher and Rossetti also appeared on the show.
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