Beyond the Label 2023

GIFT Charity goes ‘Beyond the Label’ with its showstopping Inclusive Fashion Show

Some 300 women from across the spectrum of the Jewish community attended a women-only fashion show with a difference at Finchley United Synagogue on Tuesday evening 27th June. The ‘Beyond the Label’ fashion show, now in its second year, was the brainchild of two Hasmonean High students, Adina Rosenstein and Shira Gubbay, who came up with the concept during a GIFT Charity Incubator programme that they participated in last year.

Beyond the Label celebrates women of all ages, sizes and abilities. The event aims to encourage the audience to move past the fashion industry’s traditional feting of women who reflect an idealised image, to instead focus on the inner beauty of every human being.  In the words of Abigail Marin, one of the models on the night, the show gives “people with an altered appearance the chance to shine”. Abigail was diagnosed with a facial tumour at the age of six and uses social media to share her journey and encourage others.

This year, the Beyond the Label models ranged from an eight-year-old girl with Downs Syndrome, who stole the hearts of the entire audience as she bounded joyously up and down the catwalk, to a grandmother in her 60s. Many of the stories that the models’ appearances told were extremely moving.  Former Hasmonean student Dalia Persell chose to participate as a thank you to the community for praying for her full recovery after a debilitating virus left her paralysed from the neck down last summer. – Her radiant walk down the runway on her own two feet left many in the audience wiping their eyes.

Guest speakers at the Beyond the Label show included Instagram Influence Chaya Raichik and Woman&Home magazine’s digital fashion editor Rivkie Baum, who exhorted the audience to “counter every negative body thought with two positive ones”.  The outfits and accessories that the models sported were loaned to the event by a range of Northwest London fashion boutiques, including House of Lancry, Alona Karen Boutique, B7 Active, Forever Alice, Bitz of Glitz, Fame and Keshet Couture (The Wardrobe). DJ Danny Macabi generously contributed his time to the event and put together a fabulous and empowering playlist.

Amanda Nesbitt, whose daughter Jessica is a Kisharon Service User and who modelled for the event, said: “Jessica had the most fantastic time at the event – she was made to feel so special. There was a great atmosphere in the hall and everyone was really enjoying themselves.”

Adina Rosenstein, co-creator of the initiative, who had been working tirelessly on event logistics since completing her A Levels earlier this month, said: “It’s no secret that the fashion industry suffers from a significant lack of diversity. Society’s obsession with physical appearance leads to an under appreciation of don’t conform to these normalised standards. I was so proud of all our wonderful models for showing up and being part of this important movement.”

Shira Joseph, GIFT’s Programme Director, commented: “GIFT is so proud to have been able to put on the Beyond the Label show for the second year running. All of our models this year were absolute superstars, and their inner and outer beauty were shone through – It was incredible to see the initial idea for this event being turned into something tangible that has been such an inspiration to us all.”