As an amputee, a “one shoe” discount makes me feel seen
As Schuh announced it will now sell single shoes at a 50% discount to a full pair; model, writer and amputee Georgia Stannard reflects on what this response from the fashion industry means to her.
It hit me when I was in hospital that wearing one shoe, and not two, would become my new normal. It was just one of the ways my life would change as a result of the accident that cost me my right foot. I remember buying some Adidas trainers as a ‘get well soon’ gift to myself once I got home. However, the right shoe quickly started to gather dust, unused and cast aside. I didn’t need it; compared to the left shoe which I essentially had separation anxiety from when it was eventually time to wear new ones.
Five years ago I was hit by a bus in London and within a millisecond, my life changed. But I firmly believe for the better – I always remind myself it cost me my leg, but not my life. This helped my outlook on life quickly become more positive, but it does not mean there are no obstacles. Adapting to my new disability in an able-bodied world has been extremely tough. I am constantly met with physical challenges, especially living in bustling London, like not being able to walk to the tube, and shopping in person can be physically unenjoyable. I have always been interested in fashion, but more so since I gained my disability. I like to experiment with style as a type of armour, to help me feel confident and powerful despite the physical setbacks.
I take more comfort in finding my new pieces online as it requires less walking around, but when I do find myself perusing in-store, at least I can try on my options. Bottoms are obviously where I have more issues, with trouser legs often getting stuck halfway up my prosthetic leg, and I find myself wobbling around the changing room. Talk about a fashion faux pas. I’ve found shoe shopping to be somewhat limiting, as although I do mostly wear both pairs today on my left leg and right leg (my prosthetic), I often do not need or want to. It is usually a case of laziness in the comfort of my home, when I walk in the house I take my left shoe off, but keep one shoe on my right foot. Perhaps the notion is hard to see as someone with two able-bodied legs, just trust that sometimes unzipping a boot on a prosthetic foot can be way too hard for a Monday evening. But I also don’t want to leave a gorgeous shoe gathering dust in my room for no reason! It seems blasphemous for a fashion lover to leave a beloved item unworn solely because there was no other choice but to do so.
When I discovered Schuh was launching their one shoe initiative, I wanted to call up the version of me five years ago and tell her everything is going to be okay. That there is real effort toward wanting to make as many people with limb difference, and other disabilities, feel seen and heard. For the first time, Schuh is now offering customers with limb differences or disabilities the option to buy a single shoe at a 50% discount to a pair of shoes. The latest move in the brand’s efforts on disability visibility, with 10% of their e-commerce product imagery this year featuring disabled models or models with visible differences – me being one of them.
I’ve been lucky that in my rise into the world as a woman with a disability, the fashion industry has come so far in their efforts to be more inclusive. I have a pretty good idea of it, since I have been a model for about 3 years. It is a move I never thought I’d make, but one I am so glad I have. I now can’t imagine my journey into this new life with my disability without the support and authentic efforts of the fashion industry more widely.
Moves such as the ‘one shoe initiative’, and representation of people with disabilities on Schuh’s website, is the authenticity I’ve been waiting for. I have noticed a growing, genuine interest in equality and inclusivity. I have worked with Adidas, as well as campaigns for swimwear brand YouSwim, and even our very own Cosmo editorial, plus many more. In all of the brands mentioned, I have felt a true authenticity in spirit and genuine interest to both include and learn more from someone with a physical disability. It’s also been refreshing to notice more brands come out with adaptive ranges, Such as Tommy Hilfiger's ‘Tommy Adaptive’, clearly marked on their site, as well as Zalando’s Adaptive Range- the latter I worked with at an early stage, I was impressed at the zips in places a zip wouldn’t be, to help the clothes slip on much easier.
With this totally being a step in the right direction, I’ve yet to see more mainstream brands put it into practice. Most high street designs don’t consider both sitting and standing customers for example, with long hems easily trapped in the mechanics of a wheelchair, or the fact hard-to-reach zips and fiddly buttons make getting dressed independently harder for those with limited mobility. Largely, we have to rely on dedicated brands with a sole focus on adaptive clothing, meaning we are confronted again with our points of difference.
While the one-shoe initiative is major, it’s also so simple. All it takes is for someone to ask the right questions and figure out what needs to happen. This will open up the space for more people to have more freedom of choice. Moves like this one lead to a greater change, progressing through companies actually listening to those who need more specific issues. It will take one step at a time (pardon the pun), but I do believe we are taking a step in the right direction, this one being in my gorgeous new singular shoe!
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