“Interesting, dynamic fashion is about diversity of voices”
Lauren Nathan-Lane is a model, disability and human rights activist, campaigner and writer.
What does fashion mean to you?
I've been into fashion since I was a young teen. My mum used to buy me Vogue magazines that I’d sit and devour. Growing up in the 90s and 2000s I always thought fashion wasn't for me, especially as I became disabled at 18. But in the past few years my perception has changed, and just now I was reading an interview with Edward Enninful, editor-in-chief of British Vogue, and how he's passionate about more diversity in the industry. To me, interesting, forward thinking, dynamic fashion is about diversity of voices. The industry needed to change from when I was first pulled in by it as a teenager, and now in my 30s I feel like I can slowly see the tides of change.
How would you describe your personal style?
Very mixed! I absolutely love oversized street wear some days and other days I love a simple vintage dress. I get drawn by interesting shapes and color combinations. At the moment I'm really into tailored wear like oversized suits. I like to try and wear clothes that make me stand out, being a young wheelchair user means people stare a lot at me anyway so may as well give them something to look at!
Can you tell us a bit about what you’re currently working on?
I just finished three pieces of fashion writing for Cosmopolitan looking at some of the best wedding guest outfits for wheelchair users, the best brands for disabled people and my favourite disabled fashion influencers. I'm also very very slowly writing a book! And I'm waiting for the release of a shoot I did with Look Deeper Zine who are a disabled led fashion and culture zine.
Any style tips or dressing hacks that you can share?
Now we're coming into autumn I always worry about how dull fashion can become. In the UK we have tendency to fall back on neutrals during the colder months but I absolutely think given the state the world is in we need more people bringing bright and clashing colours to these months. The best way to go about this is investing in your outerwear. I just bought a beautiful handmade balaclava made in Latvia from Etsy that I can't wait to use to give my winter clothes a bit of an edge.
Where do you love to shop? Any piece of clothing currently in your ‘shopping cart’?
I am currently VERY into Vinted. Being disabled I'm not always able to get out to charity shops or thrift shops so Vinted is such a great place to pickup second hand wonders. My favourites list is currently looking like lots of fun unique pieces ready to layer up for winter. Over my late 20s and now into my early 30s I'm trying to buy less and make what I already have work. But I am lusting after some of the beautiful things we've just seen in LFW.
What advice would you give to brands looking to be more adaptive and inclusive?
I think it’s time we gently start to move beyond tokenistic hiring, and the best way to do that is for brands to ensure they have disabled people sitting at all levels of their work. As a disabled model myself I absolutely love getting booked by brands to represent my community, but I love it even more when I know that the brand has worked hard to employ disabled people elsewhere in their business, and have spoken to disabled people about what their needs might be for their clothes. There are so many disabled people who are just as into fashion as me - we're here to talk to if brands want to start to be more inclusive of us.
What are your hopes for the future of the fashion industry?
Change still sometimes feels slow which can be demoralizing. But at the most recent LFW we’ve seen a shift in the industry to using more models who have bodies that look like the general public. My hope is that eventually the luxury and high-end world will also start working more closely with disabled and visibly different creatives on and off the runway.
@zeb_lauren
Photo Credit: Zebedee Talent UK