User:Nerdypunkkid/The National Dwarf Fashion Show

The National Dwarf Fashion show is a non-profit organization that seeks to empower and raise awareness to people living with dwarfism by putting on fashion shows consisting entirely of people living with dwarfism. They are best known for their contribution to fashion week in Paris, New York and Berlin.

Inspiration
After witnessing a dwarf women struggling to find the appropriate clothes philanthropist and CEO of Creative Business House, Myriam Chalek, decided she wanted to raise awareness to achondroplasia (dwarfism) by exposing the fashion and modeling industry to the unexplored market of dwarfism.

Utilizing connection she had in the fashion industry and partnering with the non profit, Donnons Leur Une Chance. Chalek was able to create a fashion show consisting of entirely dwarf models dubbed "Dwarf Fashion Show". The Dwarf Fashion Show took part in Paris's annual fashion week and received extensive media coverage.

Do to the heightened success of the "Dwarf Fashion Show" Myriam Chalek took what was suppose to be a single event and created the non-profit The National Dwarf Fashion show. The National Dwarf Fashion seeks to honor little people's participation to social diversity and raising positive global awareness to the prominent issues affecting individuals of short stature

Mission Statement
The mission statement of The National Dwarf Fashion show is to celebrate with pride Little People’s contribution to social diversity and raise positive global awareness to the prominent issues affecting individuals of short stature. Too often disable individuals affected by dwarfism are victims of discrimination. Many assimilate dwarfs with freak related entertainment  provoking irritation, distress and outrage. Hence the objective of the National Dwarf Fashion Show to show that people with dwarfism are no different than any other person. The National Dwarf Fashion Show is about boosting self confidence of those living with dwarfism and raising awareness of the struggles they face.

Current Work
The National Dwarf Fashion Show has increased opportunities for people with dwarfism within the modeling and fashion industry.

Involvement in Fashion Weeks

 * Paris Fashion Week, September 27, 2014,: In collaboration with the french non profit Donnons leur une chance association, CBH model management and Creative Business House, the National Dwarf Fashion Show makes its debut at Potel et Chabot during Paris Fashion Week.


 * New York Fashion Week, February 12, 2015: The National Dwarf Fashion Show opened as part of New York City Fashion Week and featured Jordanna James, dancer of Miley Cyrus and celebrity cast of the TV show Little Women New York in a “Dollar Dress" made entirely of real $100 dollar bills. Also walking was Misty Irwin, a celebrity guest of Little Women New York.


 * Berlin Fashion Week, July 11,2015: Featured models with dwarfism presenting a spring/summer collection created by Austrian designer Lena Hoschek and inspired by fabric she found in a Provence flea market.


 * Paris Fashion Week, October 2, 2014: The Ministère de la Culture (France) in Paris will host The National Dwarf Fashion show to give the opportunity to people affected by dwarfism to give an innovative perspective to the fashion and modeling industry by conveying values of freedom, equality and self.

Media Coverage
The Dwarf Fashion received extensive international media coverage by a variety of new sources including Entertainment Tonight and The Lifetime Network in the US as well as International media such as Europe1 and France24.