Irish disability activist Sinéad Burke praised by Vogue magazine

The magazine said she was representative for the disabled in the fashion industry

Sinéad Burke: ‘we view accessibility as something that is almost the antithesis of beauty’ Photograph: Cyril Byrne/The Irish Times
Sinéad Burke: ‘we view accessibility as something that is almost the antithesis of beauty’ Photograph: Cyril Byrne/The Irish Times

Irish social media influencer and disability activist, Sinéad Burke, has been praised by US fashion magazine Vogue.

In an interview the publication said Burke has become a "vocal representative for the disabled, speaking out for a group whose needs have been ignored by fashion."

Burke said in the interview, “I have lived my whole existence as somebody who is very physically identifiable and often that brings harassment, but I am [now] coming into the stage where my presence on the Internet and visibility within fashion circles is growing.”

Burke has campaigned for increased visibility for those with disabilities in the fashion industry. She is advising an approach which sees consumers reflecting on where and what they spend money and how best to increase diversity in the fashion industry.

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With her background in education, Burke is currently working on a project with students at NCAD to design items such as backpacks with built-in seating and clothing to suit little people.

"One of the challenges we as a society have is that we view accessibility as something that is almost the antithesis of beauty, and that's never helpful," Burke told Vogue.

Glen Murphy

Glen Murphy

Glen Murphy is an Irish Times journalist