While there are still many issues regarding body image in the fashion industry, it seems like Nordstrom is taking some steps in the right direction. The retailer just released its summer campaign and included in the pages of the fashion editorials are four new faces that don’t necessarily fit into the typical model mold. Jillian Mercado, who is probably the most well known of the 4 models included in the campaign, made another appearance with her wheelchair in a major fashion campaign. Mercado was the face of a remarkable Diesel spring 2014 advertisement, which features the model seated in her wheelchair.
Mercado suffers from spastic muscular dystrophy and has been wheelchair-bound since age 12. Joining Mercado, is Alex Minksy, an Armed Forces vet who lost a leg while serving in Afghanistan; Shaholly Ayers, who was born without the lower half of her right arm; and Emilia Taguchi, a 7-year-old who has Down syndrome. While seeing a wheelchair bound model is absolutely inspiring, mainly considering today’s increasingly unattainable beauty standards, supposedly this is nothing new for Nordstrom. The retailer has reportedly been featuring models with disabilities in their annual July catalog since 1997.
"Identifying companies that utilize models or actresses with disabilities has been like finding a needle in a haystack," said Meg O'Connell, a partner at the consulting firm Global Disability Inclusion. O’Connell also added that Nordstrom prides itself on this fact and applies this view to all terms of it’s business. O’Connell stated that Nordstrom "is a leader in this space and has been a long-standing supporter of disability inclusion not only in their advertising but also in employment and accessibility in their stores."
The clothing that the 4 disabled models are sporting in the July catalog have not been altered in any way, specifically Alex Minksy who is modeling a pair of Nike Free Trainer 3.0 Running Sneakers flawlessly, despite losing one of this legs during his deployment in Afghanistan.
Tara Darrow, a spokesperson for Nordstrom, explained the retailer’s decision to include models with modern day disabilities in their July catalog. She said that using diverse models is "really about reflecting the customers and communities we serve. We serve diverse customers and it's an opportunity for them to see themselves when they're looking through the book or online. ... We don't promote it or go out and talk about it. We just think they look great."
