As much as we love fashion, we know the industry is far from perfect. Luckily, we have incredible women like Sinead Burke who are not afraid to call out its exclusive nature and are working to change it for the better.
As a teenager, Sinead often felt excluded from fashion conversations and experiences due to her achondroplasia. So, at 16, she started blogging about the lack of inclusivity in the fashion industry, and continued doing so for many years through writing, public speaking, lecturing and social media.
In 2017, Sinead got her big break after presenting a TED talk entitled “Why design should include everyone.” This catapulted her into the spotlight, leading to collaborations on accessible design initiatives with huge brands such as Burberry and Ferragamo. It also led to some monumental achievements such as being the first little person on the cover of Vogue and at the Met Gala.
Representing disabled people on red carpets and magazine covers is only part of Sinead’s efforts to change the industry. Most importantly, she works directly with companies to ensure the process of designing for, with and by disabled people is embedded in their business models. However, while she’s not out changing the world, Sinead is working hard on her PhD in education, her podcast and her interview series “Extraordinary Women” where she celebrates the achievements of other women.
Her tenacity, passion and hard-work is truly an inspiration and a catalyst for change across all industries. We can’t wait to see what she achieves next and the positive change that is to come.
