I've never been a big fan of mannequins. Those slim plastic things are just a VERY false representation of real people and real bodies. But Pro Infirmis, an organization for the disabled, is in the works to change that. In fact, they recently created "Because Who Is Perfect? Get Closer," a series of mannequins replicating real people with physical disabilities. They even worked with individuals like Jasmine Rechsteiner (pictured here), a Miss Handicap winner who suffers from spine malformations for inspiration. Isn't that amazing?
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I'm tired of passing clothing store windows with flawless mannequins that look nothing like me. I can't tell you how many times I've tried on a dress only to discover it doesn't look the same on me as it did on the stupid mannequin. That's why the "Because Who Is Perfect? Get Closer" project is truly inspiring. The look on the models' faces after seeing their own bodies replicated with those mannequins was priceless. They all seemed so touched. The whole process was actually documented on video. You can check it out for yourself below.
There was a mannequin that replicated a man with an amputated leg, another of a woman in a wheelchair–and they were all just beautiful. The mannequins were displayed in store windows in Zurich, Switzerland in honor of International Day of Persons with Disabilities yesterday. You could tell that a lot of the people passing by the displays were surprised. "Seeing it there for real is quite a shock," one of the video participants said. Even so, many still seemed to like them. And why wouldn't they? They actually represent real people!
It's inspiring to see a company go out of their way to showcase body diversity. And even cooler that so many of the stores in Zurich's main downtown street, Bahnhofstrasse, were down for displaying the mannequins on their store windows. Hopefully this can spark some change in the fashion industry too. It's about time we see more diversity with models and now mannequins–whether it's race, color, size, or body type!
Embedded content: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8umFV69fNg#t=253
Image via YouTube
