Last night, Denver Fashion Week held its annual Adaptive runway show. The adaptive show is dedicated to celebrating accessibility through partnering with Guided by Humanity, a non-profit founded by Mary Medellin Sims.
Guided by Humanity offers advocacy and services to individuals with disabilities. GBH has been in operation since 2004, specializing in yoga classes and workshops for every body and every ability.
Featured brands with designers included two collections by Guided by Humanity, one a collaboration with Andrea Fisher and the other highlighting their adaptive athleisure brand everyBODY. Quána Madison and SKYE | AIRE also joined the line-up with stunning adaptive collections.
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The show was hosted by Stewart Tucker Lundy an advocate and community leader who uses a wheelchair and Brandi McMichael, founder of Fashion Denver.
The pair opened the show by describing the purpose of adaptive fashion and universal design as well as describing themselves for those in the audience with visual impairment.
Guided by Humanity x Andrea Fischer
As the show opened, Guided by Humanity premiered a short film showcasing interviews and clips of models from previous seasons, setting the mood for a vibrant and high energy show.
Q&A: How Guided By Humanity Is Reimagining the Runway at DFW’s Adaptive Show
Designed by Andrea Fischer, the collection adapted the southwest style with a blend of edgy streetwear. Models rocked serape ponchos, statement accessories and bold graphics, including shoutouts to Guided By Humanity. Each look was layered with intentional accessories including neon chains, bandanas and classic wide-brimmed western hats that nodded to rural roots. Each outfit was designed with accessibility in mind, featuring loose-fitting silhouettes, front-facing pockets and zippered hems for ease of movement and accessibility. The resulting collection was cohesive clothing that brought a high-energy vibe to the runway, showcasing the non-profit as a celebration of culture and community.
Quána Madison
Quána Madison showed her first ready-to-wear collection with the intention that everyone is already a masterpiece. Madison translated her signature visual art onto the runway with vibrant colors, with not one outfit featured having a solid color. As a result, each look had explosive patterns of colors and patterns. Looking closer, the clothing also had the intent to ensure a soft sensory experience for heightened sensory needs.
Each model danced down the runway, commanding it with electrifying energy and bold confidence. Color-forward makeup matched this electricity, heightening the vibrant experience. With thoughtful accessories like scarves, colorful umbrellas and bags, each model became a moving art piece with a bold vision of light, self-expression and, of course, adaptability.
everyBODY collection
The accessible athleisure apparel line everyBODY wby Guided by Humanity represents a powerful shift in fashion where comfort meets inclusion, and everyone is seen, valued and celebrated. Designed with accessibility at its core, the line features adaptive elements of style for people of all abilities. It’s more than clothing, it’s a movement towards fashion that fits real lives, embracing diversity, and empowering individuals to feel confident, comfortable, and unapologetically themselves.
The designers of this collection showcased a central theme of love, incorporating elements commonly associated with 1970’s hippies, including soft oranges and yellows, oversized collars and head scarves. The designs merged elegance with accessibility, including pockets in the front and long flowing dusters in the back — lightweight with an open-front designed to move at ease. These pieces blurred the line between streetwear and loungewear, embodying the collection’s focus on accessibility, stylish athleisure and everyday luxury.
SKYE | AIRE
SKYE | AIRE is known for visionary creativity and advocacy for radically inclusive fashion. The designer Skye Barker Maa brings her full design prowess to every Denver Fashion Week season, often showing multiple collections and bringing together diverse models to challenge traditional standards of beauty and representation. Last night, she closed out the Adaptive show by doing just that, adding her trademark artistry and, of course, ending with a surprise.
Barker Maa presented bold colors with theatrical flair, including oversized sleeves, dynamic prints and garments made for seated or assisted wear. Each piece made a statement, with one model in a wheelchair-accessible outfit that featured a pair of waving butterfly wings. The collection ended with a show-stopping the yellow satin gown with a long train trailing behind, lighting the runway with vibrant energy, graceful movement and bold feminity.
All in all, Denver Fashion Week’s Adaptive show promises heartwarming energy each year, with positive vibes, and a fun-loving and welcoming spirit. Denver Fashion Week continues all week into Sunday, May 18.
All photography by Weston Mosburg. Denver Fashion Week Spring 2025 takes place May 10-18, 2025 at The Brighton at 3403 Brighton Boulevard Denver, CO 80216. Tickets can be purchased here.