DMP CandI Fashion Show

My name is Amanda, Mandi for short.  Eight months ago, I started working for a direct sales company called Chloe and Isabel, selling high-fashion jewelry to help make ends meet when I had to leave my last job.  They are a great company, but like with most direct sales companies, my success is based on my personal ability to sell the product, as well as the strength of the network I'm a part of.  I didn't find the right chord to resonate with my network until three months ago, when I came upon the idea for the DiversAble Model Project. 

This project really drew on something that was deep inside of me, and that authenticity not only motivated me to push hard for it, but also resonated with those around me.  The project supports the inclusion of people with Diverse Abilities(disabilities) in society, beginning with the fashion industry, where Diverse Abilities are severely under-represented.  On first blush, this project helped catapult my work with Chloe and Isabel into a real source of income to help support my family, my wonderful husband and beautiful 1 year old son.  While I'm grateful for that, it didn't stop there.  Chloe and Isabel proved to be an awesome resource, backing me up and seeing the value of including people with Diverse Abilities.  In March, they asked myself and a few of the other ladies I had been connected to with Diverse Abilities to come to their Manhattan office for a photoshoot.  Realizing that this wasn't just a gimmick, but rather a real-life movement in the making, I decided I was more than all in, and that's when I had my next big idea: a fashion show, inclusive of DiversAble models and typically abled models alike. 

This was a big order, but I have found a team of supporters who have rallied to my side to make it happen.  October 31st is our date, and we have a location, and we've been getting in touch with professionals of various fields to get this to work.  But all of it requires funding.  Now, I have personally dedicated 90% of my Chloe and Isabel earnings to make this work, but I can't do this alone.  Makeup artists, hair stylists, photographers, designers, DJ/audio engineer, potential speakers, room and board arrangements for the models coming from all over the Northeast, site decor; there's so much that's going into this, and it all needs funding. 

With your help, this can happen!  I created this page because this is more than just a fashion show, this is a milestone for the inclusion of people with Diverse Abilities in the fashion world, and not everyone has the ability or inclincation to go through my boutique to make this work.  Please consider donating any amount to reach our $10,500 goal.  With your help, we can make a difference, we can make this world more inclusive of different views of beauty.  #DiversAbleModel #DiversAbleAlly

You can follow/support this project by visiting:
Blog: DiversAbleModel.blogspot.com
Boutique: http://bitly.com/mandifashionshow
Instagram: @MandiCandIShop
Facebook: www.facebook.com/MandiCandIShop