A wedding dresses shop he received great appreciation for displaying in the showcase A wedding dress on a mannequin sitting in a wheelchair. The initiative, launched by the boutique The White Collection of Portishead, near Bristol, quickly caught attention to social media, becoming viral after a tweet by the artist Beth Wilsonwho praised the gesture for his representation of disability in the wedding sector.
Beth Wilson, who has been using a wheelchair for five years, said she felt Finally represented thanks to this innovative showcase. He underlined how often people with disabilities feel invisible in the media and fashion and appreciated the fact that a wedding dresses shop has chosen to show greater inclusiveness.
The owners of the shop, Laura Allen and his sister Sarah Parkerthey did not imagine that their showcase would arouse so much clamor. According to Laura, the decision to insert a wheelchair mannequin was not dictated by a marketing strategy, but simply by the desire to show that marriage It is a special moment for anyoneregardless of one’s physical conditions. He explained:
We didn’t think about it too much when we created the installation. It’s nice to see such a positive reaction, but at the same time It is sad that such a thing is considered so extraordinary. It would be nice that one day people stopped watching the showcase just because the dress is beautiful, and not because it is exposed on a wheelchair mannequin.
The wheelchair valued as an integral part of the set -up
The wedding dresses sector is often criticized for its lack of inclusiveness, with windows dominated by mannequins that reflect conventional beauty standards. However The White Collection has shown that it is possible break these schemes and offer more real and diversified representations.
A detail that hit many was the way the wheelchair has been enhanced in the showcase: instead of being hidden or minimized, it was decorated with a garland, making it integral part of the preparation. This aspect was highly appreciated by Beth Wilson, who underlined how mobility aids are often perceived negatively, while in reality they represent tools of independence and freedom for many people.
The initiative has received numerous praise online, with users who underlined the importance of a wider representation in the world of fashion. Many have expressed the desire to see multiple shops follow the example of The White Collection, showing that Everyone is entitled to feel special on their wedding day.
