The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute has made a historic shift toward disability and body inclusivity in its annual exhibition, titled "Costume Art." For the first time, the exhibit includes a section called "The Disabled Body," featuring mannequins modeled on disabled bodies, such as those of activist Aimee Mullins, model Aariana Rose Philip, and accessibility consultant Sinéad Burke. Burke and her team at Tilting the Lens consulted on the exhibit for 18 months, suggesting disabled designers like Sugandha Gupta and Helen Cookman, and donated pieces to the permanent collection. The Met Gala also became accessible for the first time since 1948, with wheelchair user Aariana Rose Philip attending as the first ever.
This change matters because the Costume Institute and its flagship Met Gala have long been criticized for excluding disabled people, both as participants and as viewers. By centering disabled bodies in the exhibition and training guides in disability justice, the Met signals a broader shift toward equity in the art and fashion worlds. However, the article notes that practical accommodations—like seating for visitors—remain unclear, highlighting that this is only one milestone in a longer journey toward full accessibility. The move challenges the fashion industry to create more pipelines for disabled talent and to recognize that embodiment is essential to fashion as art.