Fashion companies are increasingly embracing diversity, moving away from the traditional thin white model stereotype. Victoria’s Secret introduced their first model with Down syndrome, and now Banana Republic has marked a significant occasion with their baby line. Their latest ad features a baby boy with Down syndrome, part of their more sustainable and inclusive BR Baby collection. The company expressed a commitment to celebrating diversity in all its forms.
Katie Driscoll, creator and president of Changing the Face of Beauty, an organization promoting equal representation of people with disabilities in the media, welcomed this step. She noted that the disability community, often overlooked in discussions of diversity, is the world’s largest minority, with one in five families connected to someone with a disability. Inclusion in advertising is crucial for their visibility and future.