Mindy Scheier

Mindy Scheier is recognized in the fashion industry as the founder of the Runway of Dreams Foundation and a leader in the adaptive clothing movement. Prior to launching the nonprofit, Scheier spent more than 20 years working in fashion as a member of the design team for the INC collection and as a stylist for Saks Fifth Avenue in New York City. Her experience in design and styling provided insight into a significant gap in the market for adaptive apparel.

Scheier was motivated to address this need when her son, Oliver, who has a rare form of muscular dystrophy called rigid spine, wanted to wear jeans to school but found traditional pants incompatible with his ankle braces and difficult to manage independently. Drawing on her background in design, Scheier adapted a pair of jeans to meet his needs, which led her to recognize that millions of people worldwide faced similar challenges accessing fashionable clothing. She developed modifications such as magnetic closures, adjustable waistbands, variable pant and sleeve lengths, and alternative entry methods to serve the needs of the disability community. This initiative became the foundation of a broader movement, leading Scheier to establish the Runway of Dreams Foundation.

Scheier partnered with Tommy Hilfiger to create the first mainstream adaptive clothing line. Runway of Dreams has collaborated with brands including Kohl's, Target, JCPenney, and Zappos.com. The Runway of Dreams fashion show has been recognized by Forbes as one of the top New York Fashion Week shows, highlighting adaptive fashion design. The foundation works to broaden the reach of mainstream adaptive clothing, supporting initiatives that empower people with disabilities through increased opportunity, confidence, independence, and style.

In response to requests from brands and industries seeking to connect with people with disabilities, Scheier founded GAMUT Management, a consulting and talent management company representing people with disabilities across the fashion, lifestyle, and entertainment sectors. GAMUT works with clients such as Adidas, Victoria's Secret, Footlocker, Kohl's, and QVC. Scheier has also rung the bell at the New York Stock Exchange in recognition of her work advancing adaptive fashion and disability inclusion.

Scheier has delivered a TED Talk and received awards including Arc's Catalyst Award for Marketing Influencer of the Year, Citrin Cooperman's Women at the Wheel Leadership Excellence Award, the Association of Image Consultants International Bravo Award, and Enable Inc.'s Michael Graves Award for Creativity and Persistence. Her work has been featured in Newsweek's The Creative Class of Innovators, People magazine's Heroes Among Us, as well as in USA Today, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Vogue Business, NBC's Today, ABC's Good Morning America, and Forbes. Through advocacy and entrepreneurship, Scheier has contributed to advancing inclusion and accessibility in fashion, demonstrating that style and accessibility can coexist.