We’re beaming at news of a second triumph for Hair & Care working with Sinead O’Dwyer to create accessible fashion experiences for blind and low vision guests. At Copenhagen Fashion Week 2024, the designer debuted her SS25 collection to champion the inclusion of a blind model in the show. Session stylist Anna Cofone is the founder of Hair & Care and supported bringing Lucy Edwards to the show. As a blind broadcaster, disability activist and content creator, Lucy was onboard from the outset. Accompanied by her guide dog, Lucy walked the show to become the first blind model ever at Copenhagen Fashion Week, and the first to represent a London designer.
Lucy with Anna Cofone at Copenhagen Fashion Week this Summer
The Lucy Edwards experience
Hair & Care worked closely with Lucy and Sinead’s team to ensure an accessible runway at the Copenhagen Operapark. Plenty of rehearsal with a movement director ensure familiarity of the runway for both Lucy and her guide dog, Miss Molly.
Anna tells us: “The most important thing was to make sure the experience would be safe and accessible for Lucy -from travelling with an airline that she trusts, to ensuring she could sleep in the same hotel as Hair & Care, to securing shuttle buses, time alone with a movement director and perfecting the tactile markings on the catwalk.”
Anna with Lucy and Miss Molly: PHOTO CREDIT ALBERTE NORGAARD
Drawing attention to the possibilities, the need for inclusion and the joy of the event, Lucy’s participation created a meaningful and powerful moment within both the fashion industry and the blind and low vision community. With a mission to make fashion accessible, Hair & Care worked hard to welcome blind and low vision guests through partnering with the Danish Association of the Blind. Guests were able to listen to pre-recorded audio descriptions of each of the looks, detailing the fabrics and colours worn by the models, as well as feeling swatches of the fabrics used in O’Dwyer’s designs as they were being shown.
Prep for the show: PHOTO CREDIT ALBERTE NORGAARD
As well as heading up Hair & Care, Anna Cofone led on the hair for Sinead’s show, with sponsor Easydry and product support from Authentic Beauty Concept. “It was so special having Lucy there as the first blind model to walk at Copenhagen – when we styled Lucy’s hair, we felt the textures and shapes together, so that Lucy could imagine the look. Beauty being accessible for all is so important to us, as is the awareness that if a person is blind, it doesn’t mean they don’t care about their appearance, it’s quite the opposite. Hair and make up can mean so much to a person’s sense of identity and confidence, and we aim to embrace that when creating looks.”
Model Line up PHOTO CREDIT ALBERTE NORGAARD
Hair & Care
Anna founded Hair & Care with a mission to make the industry accessible for the sight loss community and to support blind and low vision girls through their hair care. Hair & Care is committed to making the industry a space for all, and hope through collaborations like these, to inspire lasting change within the industry. We’re currently working with Anna to promote her awesome two-day seminar in November. Over two (or three days if you want) you’ll learn fabulous skills for your session styling work. Find out more HERE
PHOTO CREDIT ALBERTE NORGAARD
All profits go to support Hair & Care.
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