Almost all bridal boutique shops look the same — a row of mannequins striking a number of poses while displaying a range of wedding gowns. But they all are shown standing upright. A bridal boutique called The White Collection is receiving heaps of praise online for displaying a mannequin seated on a wheelchair.
Owned by Laura Allen and her sister Sarah Parker, The White Collection is situated in Portishead, The United Kingdom.
Allen told Today why and how she went about having the mannequin sitting on the wheelchair.
“For this season we wanted to strip it right back and have a mannequin in each window. Our thoughts of having one of them in a wheelchair was ‘why not?’ And we didn’t really think too much about it.”
I went and met Sarah @TheWhiteCollect and we had a great chat about how surreal it is to go viral online.
Here’s hoping more shops start including disabled people 😀 pic.twitter.com/7OW4I2y5P9
— Beth Wilson (@doodlebeth) January 11, 2019
However, she was a little ‘saddened’ by knowing that she’s the one of the first boutique owners to display a mannequin sitting on a wheelchair. She now hopes that other shops will follow her example and represent disability. She told the BBC,
“It would be nice one day for people to double take just because they like the dress. It’s an industry that’s well known for not being inclusive, a lot of bridal shops you go past you see the standard skinny mannequin. But everyone gets married, it doesn’t matter what you look like or how you are, your day is going to be special.”
The picture tweeted by artist Beth Wilson went viral, receiving lots of positive response for being inclusive and representative of all people.
This is fab! If only more bridal shops showed this level of inclusivity
— VintageWeddingPhotos (@VintageWPhotos) January 9, 2019
It should just be the norm, but it is exciting, especially as a wedding shop I feel, as I have never seen disability represented either in mainstream media or ‘high street’ shops in the wedding industry.
— Tamsyn @ VelvetVolcano (@VelvetVolcano) January 9, 2019
Tokyo! Spotted this fall and I was so excited I texted my bf. pic.twitter.com/tvbIzlyz6q
— Abba Wabba (@Abba_Wabbaz) January 10, 2019
The mannequin looks regal af
— beangry (@beanother) January 9, 2019
Oh, how lovely.
— Kate Plumbly (@CakeTowers) January 10, 2019
Have to say, that dress looks fabulous with the chair, good to see them showcase how important it is that they make sure dresses look great for every client.
— BoukeSB (@bosyber) January 9, 2019
And some also shared wedding pictures of their spouse who happen to be disabled.
Have to say, when I got married it was the most difficult and emotional element. So much pressure to be that bride. Bought @jimmychoo shoes to highlight wheelchair users love shoes too! Hopefully I looked ok! pic.twitter.com/PQOZSEfgbH
— Sarah BF Marl (@SarahBFraser) January 9, 2019
Have to say, when I got married it was the most difficult and emotional element. So much pressure to be that bride. Bought @jimmychoo shoes to highlight wheelchair users love shoes too! Hopefully I looked ok! pic.twitter.com/PQOZSEfgbH
— Sarah BF Marl (@SarahBFraser) January 9, 2019
Went to my cousin’s wedding in Portugal last weekend and decorated my wheelchair to match her wedding bouquet!
Thank you @coffeespoonie for the ‘flowery wheelchair’ idea! pic.twitter.com/on0dTN6q6F
— Marina Carlos (@MarinaCpom) May 17, 2018
