The year 2015 saw fashion finally celebrating body diversity by showcasing physically-challenged models on the runway at international fashion shows. Here Rebbecca Marine with a bionic arm is seen doing the catwalk for New York Fashion Week. (
Let's hope that this trend of positive attitudes towards body diversity is not something that just stays in 2015 but goes on to become a mainstay of the fashion industry in the coming years.
Even visually-challenged models with their colourful walking sticks made sure their presence was felt at high-end fashion shows in 2015.
Disabled models also featured at the Tokyo Fashion Week this year. They were seen showing off designs for Takafumi Tsuruta's label Tenbo.
Another model with a glittery bionic arm walks confidently on the runway.
Here a female model with crutches and a male model with a prosthetic leg pose in front of audiences.
Sporting dramatic face paint and makeup, this model on a wheel chair flaunts a designer bag in front of show attendees.
Disabled models walked the runways sometimes alone and sometimes side by side with their able-bodied counterparts on the ramp.
Art critics and disability advocates hope that this will be a positive step towards promoting body-positive attitudes from the least expected sector - the fashion industry.
Many appreciated this move of finally giving visibility to a segment of the population that was largely if not completely neglected by haute couture in the past.
This woman on a wheelchair is modelling at the FTL Moda's FW15 fashion show.