GIFT charity goes ‘Beyond the Label’ with inclusive fashion show

Around 300 women from across the spectrum of the Jewish community attended a women-only fashion show with a difference at Finchley United Synagogue on Tuesday evening.

The ‘Beyond the Label’ fashion show, now in its second year, was the brainchild of two Hasmonean High students, Adina Rosenstein and Shira Gubbay, who came up with the concept during a social action GIFT Charity Incubator programme that they participated in last year.

Beyond the Label celebrates women of all ages, sizes and abilities. The event aims to encourage the audience to move past the fashion industry’s traditional feting of women who reflect an idealised image, to instead focus on the inner beauty of every human being.

In the words of Abigail Marin, one of the models on the night, the show gives “people with an altered appearance the chance to shine”. Abigail was diagnosed with a facial tumour at the age of six and uses social media to share her journey and encourage others.

This year, the Beyond the Label models ranged from an eight-year-old girl with Downs Syndrome to a grandmother in her 60s.

Former Hasmonean student Dalia Persell chose to participate as a thank you to the community for praying for her full recovery after a debilitating virus left her paralysed from the neck down last summer.

Amanda Nesbitt, whose daughter Jessica is a Kisharon service user and who modelled for the event, said: “Jessica had the most fantastic time at the event – she was made to feel so special. There was a great atmosphere in the hall and everyone was really enjoying themselves.”

Adina Rosenstein, co-creator of the initiative, who had been working tirelessly on event logistics since completing her A Levels earlier this month, said: “It’s no secret that the fashion industry suffers from a significant lack of diversity. Society’s obsession with physical appearance leads to an under appreciation of don’t conform to these normalised standards. I was so proud of all our wonderful models for showing up and being part of this important movement.”

Shira Joseph, GIFT’s Programme Director, commented: “GIFT is so proud to have been able to put on the Beyond the Label show for the second year running. All of our models this year were absolute superstars, and their inner and outer beauty were shone through – It was incredible to see the initial idea for this event being turned into something tangible that has been such an inspiration to us all.”