Dozens of fashions with Down syndrome strutted down a catwalk at a trend present in Romania’s capital for a night celebrating model, “atypical beauty” and braveness…
BUCHAREST, Romania(AP) — Dozens of fashions with Down syndrome strutted down a catwalk at a trend present in Romania’s capital for a night celebrating model, “atypical beauty” and braveness to mark World Down Syndrome Day.
The SEEN Anonymous Seamstresses Gala in Bucharest introduced collectively designers from throughout the nation, who created clothes “with great kindness, care and creativity” for younger individuals with Down syndrome and different mental disabilities.
Georgeta Bucur, the president of Down Plus Association Bucharest, which organized the occasion held on Wednesday on the Romexpo heart, mentioned 50 seamstresses every created a costume for a teen that they had by no means met.
“The costumes were created without anyone trying them on,” she said. “But the most important thing is that the people gathered together again. This event is really special … it’s the most beautiful thing that could happen.”
For 19-year-old Antonia Voicu, who wore a puffy inexperienced netted gown and a crown of crimson roses, taking the stage was like a dream come true.
“I feel like I’m always fashionable, and I like to strike a pose, so I like to do like this,” she mentioned, earlier than stepping on the runway. “I’m not nervous at all.”
Antonia’s caretaker, Diana Negres, mentioned the occasion was “a big step” for Antonia, who had at all times dreamed of “being a star” parading on stage. “This event gives her exactly this,” she mentioned. “This is her first time, we did no preparation at all, so everything will be spontaneous.”
Cristina Bucur, a seamstress and one of many organizers, mentioned the thought for the style present got here to her as a result of she has a youngster with a incapacity.
“I wished the opposite youngsters to see what it’s prefer to put on a costume throughout a trend present, what it’s prefer to be cheered on stage,” she mentioned. “They enjoy it enormously because they see that someone looks at them, that someone does something for them.”
In Romania, about 12,000 individuals have Down syndrome, and over 6 million worldwide, in line with the Romania Down Syndrome Federation. In 2022, the Eastern European nation reported that a particular person with Down syndrome was born per 847 births.
“On stage, us children go on a parade, and today I’m dressed in a nice dress and try to do some modeling,” mentioned nine-year-old Marusika Burlaca, who took to the stage carrying a pink gown studded with little pearls after having her hair accomplished up.
“Maybe they get a bit nervous at times, it’s the emotions, but they really like to be the center of attention,” mentioned Larisa Bucur, one of many organizers. “We know that they want to be in the spotlight. I think it’s a very good opportunity for them.”
World Down Syndrome Day celebrates the lives of individuals with Down syndrome to ensure they’ve equal freedoms and alternatives, and to boost consciousness. In 2011, the United Nations General Assembly declared March 21 because the official day of commentary.
This 12 months’s theme is combating loneliness, which the World Down Syndrome Day web site says can have an outsized influence on individuals dwelling with Down syndrome.
“Everyone feels lonely sometimes,” it states. “But for many people with Down syndrome and other intellectual disabilities, loneliness is a more common and painful experience.”
McGrath reported from Leamington Spa, England.
