Runway of Dreams Foundation is a nonprofit organization working toward a future of inclusion, acceptance, and opportunity in the fashion industry for people with disabilities. Founded in 2014, on the basis that clothing is a basic human need, the Runway of Dreams Foundation develops, delivers, and supports initiatives to broaden the reach of adaptive clothing and promote people with disabilities in fashion. Through adaptive runway shows, awareness building campaigns, wardrobe grants and scholarship programs, the Runway of Dreams Foundation is empowering people with disabilities with opportunity, confidence, independence and style. Mindy Scheier is the Founder and CEO of Runway of Dreams Foundation.
Runway of Dreams made fashion history in 2016, when we collaborated with Tommy Hilfiger on the first-ever mainstream adaptive clothing line for kids. Since then, in just three years, Runway of Dreams has inspired many global fashion brands and retailers to make change happen, including adaptive lines from: Zappos, Target, Kohl's, Nike, and more launching every season!
This Spring, Runway of Dreams partnered with online retailer Zappos Adaptive for a live-stream fashion show, showcasing the present and future of adaptive fashion. The event was held in Las Vegas and attended by hundreds of fashion insiders, industry leaders, employees of Zappos, and members of the disability community. Over 30 models with all types of disabilities strolled the catwalk sporting adaptive options selected by Zappos that are functional, fashionable, and meet all types of needs.
Runway of Dreams just made fashion history on September 5, 2019, by kicking off New York Fashion Week with a runway show featuring over 40 models of all abilities (cast by RoDF), featuring clothing provided by Tommy Adaptive, Zappos Adaptive and Kohl's clothing options. This was the first time all three brands shared one runway for the same important cause! The event was hosted by Jill Martin, Today Show Lifestyle Contributor, and emcee'd by Carson Kressley, TV personality and style savant. New York based electronic duo The Knocks closed out the night with an amazing finale performance. Other models included Madeline Stuart, famous supermodel with Down Syndrome, Jamie Brewer of American Horror Story, Mandy Harvey of America's Got Talent, and more.
Runway of Dreams believes that education is the key to the future of adaptive fashion. The foundation continues to champion the inclusive fashion movement and has created innovative charitable programming that addresses an enduring social problem. Mindy travels across the country talking with universities and design students to champion the next generation of this movement.
Through adaptive clothing donations and wardrobe grants, awareness building campaigns, adaptive runway shows and scholarship programs, Runway of Dreams is bringing visibility to disability and empowering people with confidence, independence and style.
Runway of Dreams has seen a huge uptick in social conversation regaring people with disabilities in the fashion industry, and we're excited to be at the forefront. The look book, which Runway of Dreams has used to pitch models, focus groups participants, and panelists has close to 500 people in it, and growing daily. Runway of Dreams has now partnered with Gamut Management to facilitate these relationships with businesses.
Just this year, the foundation has been recognized by the following press outlets: Access Hollywood, Forbes, Now This, GMA Thriver, Good Morning America (and digital), Glamour Magazine, The Robin Report, New York Post, Press Six, Daily Mail, Yahoo, NBC Today, WPIX, The Mighty, Business Insider, AOL, MSN, Yahoo Finance, The Daily Briefing on Fox News, Daily Record, USA Today, KTLA, Washington Post, with exciting confirmed press to publish soon.
Additionally, Mindy's TED talk from January 2018 has close to 970k views.
