Bri Scalesse

Fashion students and brands are often observed drawing inspiration from Bri Scalesse’s visibility in fashion and her advocacy for inclusive casting^{1 2}.

ENABLE Model location

• Pre-launch Interventions → Design Accessible Experiences

What it is

Bri Scalesse is a wheelchair user, model, and disability advocate who has appeared in multiple shows at New York Fashion Week, including for brands like Studio 189 and Guvanch¹. She has publicly spoken about the importance of seeing more disabled models represented in mainstream fashion², and has emphasized that inclusive shows she’s walked in felt genuinely welcoming — not tokenistic³.

Why it matters

Scalesse’s presence on high-profile runways, paired with her public advocacy, challenges narrow conceptions of who “belongs” in fashion. Her campaigns help shift creative practices toward proactively designing with disability in mind, encouraging inclusive casting from the start rather than retrofitting it later.

Real-world example

By modeling visibly at runway shows, Scalesse offers students and creatives a reference point for what inclusion can look like at the concept stage. Her work helps normalize the presence of disabled bodies in fashion spaces traditionally defined by exclusion. This kind of representation is essential for shaping mental models of inclusive design^{2 3}.

What care sounds like

• "We're actively seeking out disabled talent for our upcoming campaign; their input is crucial from the concept stage." – A brand manager
• "Our goal is to ensure our designs are showcased by models with diverse bodies, reflecting the real world." – A lead designer
• "Let's incorporate inclusive casting into our production checklist for every new project." – A fashion director
• "We are committed to making sure our runway experience is welcoming and accessible to all participants and viewers." – An event organizer

What neglect sounds like

• "We only designed for the average body type; others can adapt." – A lead designer
• "We’ll consider casting disabled models later if we have time and budget." – A brand manager
• "The visuals are self-explanatory; we don't need to specifically feature diverse representations." – A creative director
• "It’s not our job to fix accessibility in the industry—just to make our clothes look good." – A fashion designer

What compensation sounds like

• "I often have to use a third-party service just to find fashion campaigns that feature people like me." – A model
• "Why should I have to actively search for brands that include diverse bodies when it should be standard?" – A consumer
• "I ended up organizing my own photoshoot to showcase my designs on a wider range of bodies because mainstream avenues weren't inclusive." – A student designer
• "I feel like I always have to ask if there are opportunities for wheelchair users in these campaigns, rather than seeing them proactively offered." – A model

Footnotes

1. Has the Fashion Industry Ignored the Needs of the Differently Abled? – The Established ↩ ↩²

2. Fashion Magazine: Meet the Disabled Models Changing the Industry ↩ ↩² ↩³

3. Exploring Inclusive Design Practices in Fashion – UNC Greensboro Master's Thesis ↩ ↩²