When two people supported by YAI arrived at a Fashion Week event hosted by Daniel’s Leather, they didn’t just attend, they experienced the glamour of the fashion world firsthand.
Jennifer Camp and Sheldon Allen, who live at 206th Street residence in the Bronx, were invited to participate in a winter fashion show last month featuring custom fur coats. The opportunity came through the initiative of Nehemiah Williams, Assistant Supervisor of YAI’s Riverdale IRA, who discovered the event and reached out to the company to explore ways for people YAI supports to get involved.
Williams first learned about the show after seeing a video online featuring people with disabilities visiting the Daniel’s Leather store. Inspired by the idea, he contacted the company to ask if YAI could participate.
“I saw individuals with developmental disabilities being interviewed in the store and I said, ‘This is something we need to look into,’” Williams said. “I thought maybe people in our programs could be part of the runway show.”
While the event was already full when Williams first reached out, he stayed in touch with the company and followed up at the beginning of the year. Eventually, two spots opened up.
Before the show, Camp and Allen visited the Daniel’s Leather store to meet the team and try on coats that would later be brought to the event.
The experience itself was unforgettable.
Camp even wore a coat valued at about $6,000 and enjoyed the full fashion treatment, including hairstyling and makeup at the event venue.
“It was very awesome, meeting new faces and seeing the fashion show and trying on the fur coat,” Camp said. “I felt like a princess. It was a very cool event and we both had a really good time.”
Although the runway portion of the show started late in the evening and Camp and Allen were unable to walk due to scheduling constraints, the night still offered plenty of excitement. They met other models, explored the venue, and connected with members of the fashion community.
Williams made sure they soaked in every moment.
“We didn’t just sit in the waiting room,” he said. “We walked around the floor so they could experience everything. People were stopping, complimenting the coats, and Jennifer was getting a lot of attention.”
For Williams, the opportunity represented something much bigger than a single event.
“Opportunities like this open the door to something greater,” he said. “You never know what can come from them.”
The connection with Daniel’s Leather may also lead to future collaborations. After learning that Camp and Allen were unable to walk the runway due to the late start time, the company expressed interest in partnering with YAI on a dedicated fashion show specifically for people with disabilities supported by the organization.
Williams is hopeful that this could give even more people a chance to shine.
“To me, this feels like the beginning of something bigger,” he said. “It’s one of those moments where you see the potential and think, ‘Let’s do something special for the people we support.’”