Tuesday 29 September 2009

IMperfecting

So things are coming along nicely at IMperfect. The t-shirts are here and are selling away, there has been a strike - thank you very much royal mail! - so things have been moving slowly, but we're getting there. It was great that we could offer a special 10% discount on all future items of clothing though so the hold up was worth it - i hope! I'm looking forward to pictures of supporters in the t-shirts too, so as soon as they arrive please email them in to smorgan@imperfect.uk.com!

We had a brilliant shoot with Kelly Knox, winner of Britain's missing top model on the weekend also. She was modeling some clothes that have been made out of the IMperfect t-shirts, just for fun and for the website, and we hope we will get the chance to auction some of the beautiful dresses soon too!! The designers/stylists/super genius guys Ross and Joe who made the garments have done the most incredible job, and as soon as the pictures are ready they will be up for you all to admire!!!The photographer Sam was also amazing as always, offering his invaluable services for free to help the cause was amazingly kind, and i just want to thank him, again, for being so great to us - including bumping me up and down the stairs to the inaccessible studio!!

The next step is the biggest and i really can't wait! The ball has started rolling though thanks to the money coming in...the phone line will be set up soon!!!..Its going to take a lot of work and time, and money, but in the end we will get there i'm sure. It will be an emotional support line, that offers support (obviously!!) and an ear for anyone who has suffered discrimination....we aren't going to be offering legal advice, or information as there are lots of helplines out there for that, although we will offer info on where to go if you need that, but really it is simply a place for anyone of any age and any disability to call and have someone to talk to, vent to, cry to or even yell to!! I want to employ disabled councilors as well as non disabled of course to guarantee the best support,and will hopefully one day be in a position to call out for your voluntary services to help man the phones..but that's a way away just now - not long though!!!woohoo!!!

The clothing label is underway also, which is really exciting, and will of course generate the funds needed for the support line, while also spreading the message that we at IMperfect believe in - that we are all unique and beautiful an have the same rights as everyone else!! The clothes will be fun and equally unique, playing with traditional styles and designs as well as manipulating proportion and perception. Some items will be one size fits all, some will be for small, some for tall, some for skinny, some for fat, some for amputee, some for wheelchair people, some for men and some for women but all will be for the IMPERFECT!!!yey!!!

I have also started collecting inspirational stories of people who have stood up against discrimination and fought back. You can see this in the section called, "IMperfect People" on the website. I want to show this to inspire people who have felt that they aren't able to live with the same rights as the next person, to show them what can be done in the face of injustice. But also to simply show that you are not alone, that people continue to suffer, and that things are being done to help establish a change..I also think its important to relay these stories so that people can see how hard things can sometimes be as a disabled person, but that we are not victims in anyway, we are strong and empowered and can take on the world - if we want, need or have to!!so watch out!! hehe!
IMperfect people are examples of disabled people who have implemented big changes in some examples, the incredible Susan Archibald for one, but also live amazing lives, dedicated to altruism, despite the hardships that life has dealt them and if this isn't inspirational well i don't know what is!

It is great to be a part of something that celebrates equality and i hope you are as excited about the future as I am.
Lots of love
Sophie

5 comments:

  1. Well done imperfect and Sophie
    you are doing an amazing job and i have to say its about time!
    keep it up and best of luck!
    Chris

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  2. i agree chris, i think it is time that more disabled people stand up for themselves. it is as much about us starting change as is it for the world to change. we can't just expect it to happen.
    i read about susan archibald on your site she is a great woman. how does she find the time.

    good luck
    Sarah Wills xx

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  3. Hi Sophie!, i think this is a gread idea, the clothing are always love fron teen..use the fashion for this cause it's innovative and creative! also disable can be fashion and beautiful ^_^ this is a beautiful message..go on..whit love Laura

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  4. Glad to see that things are moving forward for you!

    Many think that creating change is hard - and that it's up to others to do it!

    "What are you going to do about it?" does not cut the Mustard.

    "What are we going to do about it?" - way to go and keep it up!

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