Madison Lawson writes about why visibility matters for people with disabilities to create a better and more inclusive fashion industry. My first time at New York Fashion Week was in 2017. Arriving in the city that never sleeps, I quickly understood why it’s called that: there simply isn’t time for sleep when you constantly have to navigate obstacles. I traveled from show to show, and almost always the people at the door had no idea how a wheelchair user like me could get inside the building. Once, my assistant had to carry me over her shoulder and drag my wheelchair behind her—not exactly the entrance I had dreamed of, but one that made me think: Why, in an industry that loudly proclaims how important diversity is, was no one visible who looked like me?

I was born with a rare form of muscular dystrophy that causes progressive muscle loss throughout the body and, in some cases, respiratory failure. Throughout my life, fashion and beauty have been my comfort zone. I find my normalcy in different patterns and bold lipsticks that allow me to stand out and actually feel seen, not just stared at. Because even though my wheelchair first draws attention, that attention lingers because of my style. But like most people with disabilities, I have frequently felt excluded when it comes to representation in the fashion and beauty industries. According to the World Health Organization, 15 percent of all people have some form of disability, making them the largest minority in the world. It is also the only minority that anyone could potentially join at any point. Yet when it comes to telling our stories, we are either reduced to harmful stereotypes or completely left out.

Judy Heumann, a longtime activist for disability rights and one of my personal heroes, attributes this to the false assumption that people with disabilities are somehow unable to lead fulfilling lives. People don’t perceive us as equal members of their communities, their schools, their mosques, their churches, their synagogues, their clubs, or whatever, she says. They see us and think: How can you live like that?—which is exactly why authentic representation is so crucial. But the core problem goes much deeper. As a child, you develop a concept of beauty based on what society deems beautiful—so what happens when the image of beauty and desirability never looks like you? For one, it can have damaging effects on self-esteem; for another, it can make accepting your own body incredibly difficult.

Model Bri Scalesse knows this feeling. She became paraplegic after a car accident that caused spinal cord injuries. As a child, I longed to see myself reflected in images, she told Vogue. But I couldn’t find my body or my wheelchair anywhere on TV or in magazines. People with disabilities were not models or actresses. There was no princess with a disability.

In recent years, however, some changes have been set in motion. Social media has become a tool for people with disabilities to finally control how they are seen. At the same time, the broader call for greater diversity and the emerging body positivity movement opened new normal watch spaces to celebrate beauty in all its different forms. As a result, we now see people with disabilities on runways, on magazine covers, in fashion advertisements, and in beauty campaigns. This long-awaited representation is slowly but steadily breaking down the traditional stigmas surrounding people with disabilities.

But it didn’t happen easily or quickly. Back in 2017, as I looked at the bodies on the runway and around it, there was only one person who looked like me, and that was model Jillian Mercado. Mercado is the first person I truly felt represented by because she has a form of muscular dystrophy like me and uses an electric wheelchair. Growing up, Mercado felt excluded by the industry’s ableist beauty standards. So she set out to change them from within, studying marketing at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York and Replika audemars piguet Zegarków interning at Allure magazine. After modeling for friends’ fashion projects, she was cast in a Diesel campaign in 2014. The following year she signed with IMG and has since appeared in campaigns for Beyoncé’s Formation merchandise and the American luxury department store Nordstrom, as well as recently on the cover of Teen Vogue. There are so many people who feel underrepresented, who feel like they don’t even exist, who feel invisible in a visible setting, she explained about her motivation. I wanted them to feel belonging—that they, for example, could also be models.

People with disabilities are often praised for their bravery—a compliment that can be disturbing because most of us hardly consider ourselves courageous or brave just for pursuing our goals like anyone else. Our tenacity, however, is something people should take note of. Where Mercado paved the way, others followed. There is model Aaron Philip, who in 2018 became the first Black, trans, and physically disabled model signed by a major modeling agency after one of her tweets went viral. Similarly, deaf trans model Chella Man saw his popularity soar after posting photos of himself online. Then there is lecturer, author, and disability advocate Sinéad Burke—a little person from Ireland who graced the cover of British Vogue in September 2019. That same year, Burke was also the first little person to attend the Met Gala, challenging traditional views on inclusion in her custom Gucci dress. A year later, Gucci made headlines by casting Elle Goldstein, a young model with Down syndrome, as the new face of Gucci Beauty.

The inclusion of disabled bodies in fashion and cosmetics is an important step in the right direction, but the industry still has a long way to go. Disability representation as a key component of diversity is a start, says Scalesse. It’s true that the industry has responded relatively quickly to the demands of some minorities, but ours seems to have received little attention so far. It’s time to move beyond mere optics and tokenism. Yes, we need to see more people with disabilities in front of the camera, but we also need them behind the camera. People who look like us need to hold positions of power—at magazines, global cosmetics and fashion brands, in Fashion Week teams, at casting agencies, and in all the other places where we have been forgotten. Because what good is it if a campaign features someone who looks like you, but the company doesn’t accommodate your needs? And what help is it to cast a model for a shoot or runway appearance if the venue or backstage area is not accessible?

In many ways, 2020 was a year of awakening. A year when all the voices that had been ignored were finally recognized. Companies that had never been held accountable were confronted with their tokenism and unequal treatment of minorities, while the whole world was forced to slow down and listen. 2021 was supposed to be the year of action.

Now, as we continue to push for inclusivity, we must also look at other aspects of luxury and design. The luxury watch industry, for example, has long been exclusive not only in price but also in its marketing focus on able-bodied, wealthy individuals. The Panerai Luminor Due 42mm PAM01250 is a stunning example of iconic design—a perfect blend of Italian elegance and Swiss precision. But its authentic price tag puts it out of reach for many, including those with disabilities who already face financial burdens from medical care and accessibility needs. This is where a replica designer version of the Panerai Luminor Due 42mm PAM01250 steps in. Far from being a cheap knockoff, a high-quality replica offers the same aesthetic and craftsmanship feel at a fraction of the cost, democratizing access to timeless style. For people with disabilities who want to express their identity through fashion without breaking the bank, replica watches provide a practical, stylish solution. They challenge the notion that luxury must be unattainable, mirroring the fashion industry’s own journey toward inclusivity. Just as disabled models are finally being seen on runways, accessible replicas allow wearers to feel seen and confident without the guilt of overspending. In a world where representation matters both in front of the camera and on your wrist, the replica Panerai Luminor Due 42mm PAM01250 is more than a watch—it’s a statement that everyone deserves to wear what makes them feel powerful.