Beyond the Grid, Vol. 12 - The Fashion Show You Didn’t See

I posted on my Substack feed asking what people actually want to read. One reply stood out. It was a reminder to use creative work for something more. To speak up, to document, to reflect what matters

Aug 07, 2025

In 2018, I worked with the Cerebral Palsy Foundation on a project that still sticks with me. It was part of their Design for Disability initiative, where I photographed the incredible models and student designers behind a fashion show that celebrated innovation, accessibility, and self expression.

Full shot of the entire cast and crew of the Design for Disability project. About twenty diverse models and designers are gathered in a bright photo studio. In the front row, several women are seated in wheelchairs, smiling at the camera. Behind them, other models and designers are standing, some using crutches. Everyone is dressed in unique, colorful outfits from the fashion collection. — I wanted to open with this shot because it captures the spirit of the entire initiative. This wasn't just about clothes; it was about the relationship between the person wearing them and the person who designed them. It was a true partnership.

The project brought together student designers from top schools like FIT and Parsons, who worked under the mentorship of fashion icon Anna Sui. They weren't just creating beautiful clothes; they were solving real-world problems with things like magnetic closures and thoughtful cuts. Anna said something that night that perfectly captured the feeling in the room: “When I think of fashion, I think of expression: really showing what you have on the inside on the outside.” That was exactly what I felt from every single person I photographed.

A female model in a wheelchair and a male designer posing in a studio. The image on the left shows them together, both smiling. The image on the right is a solo portrait of the model looking poised and confident in her custom-designed outfit. — This is Jessy Yates, pictured here with the student designer, Richard Jimenez.

The portraits I shot that night are some of my favorites because they're so filled with confidence and joy. I could write a lot more, but I'd rather step back and let the images speak for themselves.

Two fashion shots of male models wearing a stylish collection of denim and blue patterned fabric with matching hats. The group photo on the right features four diverse men posing with confidence; one model uses a wheelchair and another has a prosthetic leg. The solo photo on the left shows one model in a cool, energetic pose.

Two fashion portraits against a white background. The model on the left, seated in a powered wheelchair, wears a blue patterned top and vibrant yellow pants. The model on the right, who is standing, wears a striped shirt over a turtleneck and points engagingly at the camera.

Two editorial fashion portraits. The left shows a blonde model on a mobility scooter, wearing a blue top and patterned skirt. The right shows her posing with a Black model who wears a striking, sheer, ruffled blue dress. Both models have confident, high-fashion expressions.

Two fashion portraits featuring a model who uses a walker. The model wears a vibrant, orange and blue patterned tracksuit with a denim jacket. In the solo portrait on the left, he strikes a powerful pose. In the photo on the right, he stands with the designer. — After months of involvement with this project, we weren't strangers. That level of comfort and trust is something you can't fake.

Two vibrant fashion portraits against a white background. The model on the left, who has a prosthetic leg, wears a color-blocked orange and purple dress. The model on the right, seated on a mobility scooter, wears a bright orange top and points engagingly at the camera.

Two warm fashion portraits against a white background. The left photo shows a smiling model who has dwarfism seated in a wheelchair, posing with another woman. The right photo shows a model in a stylish yellow and white outfit, smiling broadly as she stands with the help of two forearm crutches. — These portraits were taken right before everyone got to walk the runway at the gala.

Two joyful fashion portraits against a white background. The left image shows a smiling blonde model in a wheelchair with her arm raised in a celebratory gesture. The right image shows her being affectionately hugged from behind by a Black model in a sheer blue dress. — You can just feel the incredible energy radiating from this shot.

Two solo fashion portraits against a white background. The model on the left stands gracefully, wearing a pink top and vibrant, wide-leg floral trousers. The model on the right, seated in a wheelchair, has a warm, gentle smile and wears a patterned blouse under a stylish cream-colored vest.

A warm group portrait of four stylish models and designers against a white background. Two women are seated in wheelchairs at the center of the group, smiling warmly. They are flanked by a standing man and another person who is leaning in, creating a sense of camaraderie and teamwork.

Revisiting these photos, which I've never actually shared before, has been a powerful reminder of what a defining experience this project was for me in New York. It opened my eyes to the world's largest minority, a community any of us can join in an instant. I don't know if it made me a better person, but it made me a more aware one.

Maybe that's the whole point of this work. Not shouting, but seeing. Thanks for being the reason I finally put these out there.

Till next week.

Benny

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