Artistic & Autistic, Maggie Heinsohn's greatest desire for the future is to uplift and teach those inside and out of the disabled world. Maggie is first and foremost a lover of whimsy and fun; And with their simple yet playful fairy-tale style as a starting point, Maggie hopes to build a livelihood and community through their small business, Reef & Lily, where they design accessible & adaptable fashion in the form of home sewing patterns that put comfort & consideration first – without sacrificing aesthetic. Maggie hopes to provide educational content about how to make the patterns they’ve created, and to help others create a more accessible and expressive world through acceptance and self-expression. The kind of world they dreamed of as a child.
My collection “Illusions” is inspired by the experiences of the disabled. Robed in the colors of the disability pride flag, each of the five looks is connected to one of the many expectations or perceptions that the abled often force upon a disabled person or community; The collection features themes of infantilization, martyrdom, restriction and non-accommodation, sexualization, and forced performance. It explores a representation of the objectification and dehumanization that is often forced upon us. The collection uses juxtaposition between light and heavy fabric, graceful and whimsical vibes contrasted with ominous glimpses under the hood of a system that grabs and manipulates; puppeteering people into roles that make others comfortable. Whilst also trying to show that despite everything, our truths still shine through.