The global shift toward Down syndrome inclusion in fashion

How children with Down syndrome are redefining global fashion / Photo: kaltblut-magazine.com, photo editor: Dastan Shanay

Efforts to change public perceptions of people with developmental disabilities are increasingly being supported not only by advocacy and charitable organizations but also by major fashion publications.

Late last year, German fashion, culture and art magazine KALTBLUT featured two young women from Kazakhstan with Down syndrome, highlighting issues of visibility and inclusion.

Kazakh women featured in international publication

The article — titled «We Are Here Too!» — profiled Natalie Vrublevskaya and Zhansaya (Nonna) Mukhamedzhanova. The young women participated in a photo shoot and interview in which they spoke about their lives, interests and sources of joy.

Natalie Vrublevskaya / Photo: kaltblut-magazine.com, photo editor: Dastan Shanay

The magazine wrote that meaningful stories often emerge from voices that have long gone unheard, emphasizing that every person deserves visibility — particularly those society has historically overlooked.

In Kazakhstan, people with Down syndrome rarely appear in mainstream media, advertising campaigns or fashion projects. Yet they remain an integral part of society — forming relationships, pursuing ambitions and expressing themselves in ways that challenge stereotypes.

Community support and volunteer work

Both participants are volunteers with youngspecial_astana, an Astana-based community that supports children and young people with special educational needs.

The organization hosts charity events, community meetings and inclusive creative programs, including a theater group and art workshops aimed at promoting social inclusion.

Growing visibility in Kazakhstan’s fashion media

In October 2025, Harper’s Bazaar Kazakhstan published a similar project focused on increasing the visibility of women with genetic conditions.

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Публикация от Anel Bazylova (@anili__laowai)

Photographer Anel Bazylova’s series «Following the Sun» tells the story of Aisha Baktygul, a young artist with Down syndrome. The project also features her metaphorical sister, Aigerim Ayapbergenova — a multiple-time Kazakhstan champion in track and field and swimming among athletes with hearing impairments.