Dwarfism Awareness Month: Spotlight on Trailblazers
October marks Dwarfism Awareness Month, a time to recognise the resilience and achievements of individuals with dwarfism. As a height-inclusive fashion brand, we want to celebrate the trailblazers who have shattered stereotypes and made significant contributions across various fields. We want to hold space this Dwarfism Awareness Month to highlight their remarkable stories and the ongoing journey towards greater representation and inclusion.
Sinead Burke: Fighting for accessibility from the inside
As the CEO and founder of Tilting The Lens, a consultancy seeking to build a more inclusive world, Sinead Burke leads industry-wide change to break accessibility barriers within global corporations. Sinead’s powerful writing and dedication has made strides for people with dwarfism, as she advocates for marginalised communities through education. Her campaigning work in the fashion industry sparks meaningful conversations around accessibility and representation.
Ellie Simmonds: Paralympian to fashion inclusivity advocate
Ellie Simmonds, former Paralympian swimmer and DEWEY ambassador, is a gold medalist, television personality, and activist. Winning two gold medals for Great Britain in the 2008 Summer Paralympic games at just 13-years-old, Ellie showed the world that age and height are not defining metrics for high achievement. She now advocates for inclusivity and accessibility within the fashion industry as a celebrity ambassador and investor for DEWEY, the world’s first height inclusive fashion brand.
Annabelle Davis: Making waves in the art world
Annabelle Davis’s creativity and versatility in the arts make her a force to be reckoned with. As the daughter of legendary actor Warwick Davis, Annabelle has made a name for herself in the acting world, appearing in the Willow TV series alongside her father and the Channel 4 hit drama Hollyoaks. The British actress lets her creativity shine as a multidisciplinary artist, encouraging others to not limit themselves and pursue their passions wholeheartedly.
Tony Cox: Championing on-screen inclusivity
Best recognised for his leading role in Bad Santa, Tony Cox is a scene-stealing film and television actor, appearing in blockbusters hits Friday, Beetlejuice, and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. Tony was inspired to pursue acting while watching actor and activist Billy Barty, and continued his legacy of bringing on-screen representation to people of short stature. Tony’s story demonstrates the need for inclusivity in the media, inspiring others to follow in his footsteps.
Fatima Timbo: A shining light online
Recently awarded as Glamour’s Creator Woman of the Year for 2024, Fatima “Fats” Timbo is an accomplished content creator, author, and advocate for inclusivity. In her autobiography Main Character Energy: 10 Commandments To Living Life Fearlessly, Fats shares her story as a person with dwarfism, and teaches her audience how to take ownership of their life as the “main character” in her signature witty tone. Her lifestyle and comedy videos have grown a following of three million people on TikTok, cultivating a safe space for the short-statured community online.
Moving the needle in accessibility
As a height-inclusive clothing brand, we are consistently evolving to better address the needs of short statured people. Taking inspiration from the exceptional individuals mentioned above, DEWEY celebrates our differences and takes an active role in creating a more accessible fashion industry.
This Dwarfism Awareness Month, it’s crucial to honour the important accomplishments of people with dwarfism in an ongoing conversation around inclusivity, while recognising the long-road ahead in creating an accepting and uplifting society for us all.