Runway of Dreams: Mindy Scheier's Mission for Inclusive Fashion

In this episode of Leave Your Mark, I sit down with my friend, Mindy Scheier, the founder of the Runway of Dreams Foundation. This episode begins on a personal note, discussing our shared experiences as mothers of sons with different forms of Muscular Dystrophy. Mindy discusses her journey from the fashion industry to creating adaptive clothing inspired by her son Oliver's desire to wear jeans. His issue? He can't close the buttons. This plea sent Mindy off on her journey, starting with the groundbreaking collaboration she secured with Tommy Hilfiger to launch an adaptive clothing line and the importance of making fashion inclusive for people with disabilities. Mindy also talks about her non-profit's initiatives, including adaptive runway shows and college programs, and her talent management company, Gamut, which advocates for the inclusion of people with disabilities in fashion and media and helps companies find authentic ways to engage with, create products for and represent people with disabilities. The episode highlights key moments, such as Mindy's collaborations with major brands, the creation of the Gamut Seal of Approval, and even the successful adaptation of her son Oliver's accommodations at Tulane University. This episode is incredibly inspiring as we end with Mindy's aspiration to make the world more inclusive, hopefully aiming for a future where the need for discussions about disability inclusion is obsolete.