Fashion forward student honoured with award nomination

October 14, 2014

Fashion forward student honoured with award nomination

Jess Quinn (21) knows first-hand that prosthetics are designed for function not fashion. The AUT fashion design student is passionate about changing this, using her talents to make stylish prosthetic leg covers.

The Greenhithe woman has been honoured for her efforts by being selected as a ‘Youth Award’ finalist in the 2014 Attitude Awards. The national awards celebrate the excellence and achievements of disabled Kiwis.

At age nine Jess broke her leg in a seemingly random soccer accident. However, after the break failed to heal, further tests revealed cancer on the bone. She underwent chemotherapy followed by a radical surgery called rotationplasty – where the thigh and knee joint are removed and the lower leg is transported hip level and rotated 180 degrees in order to make the foot function as the knee joint. She has required a prosthetic leg ever since.

Jess believes people should have access to prosthetics that are not only functional medical devices, but also fashion accessories that are attractive and give the wearer a sense of pride.

“It’s about giving people the opportunity to express their identity and having a bit more control of their body,” she says.

Jess is currently completing an honours year towards her Bachelor of Art and Design at AUT. As part of her study she is designing and making a series of interchangeable and fashionable prosthetic leg covers. Her goal is to use this research and its outcomes during her masters, which she intends to complete in London next year. Ultimately, she dreams of creating a fashion collection wearable for people with and without prosthetics.

“I’m one of those people who gets an idea in my head and I can’t not do it, I have to go for it. After everything I’ve been through, I realise how short life is,” says Jess.

Outside of study and fashion, Jess finds time to mentor and support cancer patients and amputees as they undergo treatments like rotiationplasty and recovery from limb loss.

Jess’ nomination as an Attitude Awards finalist is testament to her resilience and positive attitude. She will find out if she has won the award at a black-tie gala on World Disability Day, December 3 at Auckland’s Viaduct Events Centre.

There are eight categories in the 2014 Attitude Awards: Sport Performer of the Year, Courage in Sport, Artistic Achievement, Youth, Spirit of Attitude, the Attitude ACC Employer Award, Making a Difference award and the inaugural Attitude Junior Award. The overall winner of the Attitude ACC Supreme Award is selected from the category winners and a People’s Choice winner and a Hall of Fame inductee are also announced on the night.

Attitude Awards Trustee Dan Buckingham, a member of the elite national wheelchair rugby team the Wheel Blacks, says: “This is such an exciting time for everyone at Attitude Pictures because we find out who the finalists are. We have started travelling the country to film the finalists and even though this is the seventh year their stories continue to amaze us.”

Dan encourages everyone to visit AttitudeLive.com, an innovative web platform created by Attitude Pictures, in early November to see the short films of the finalists and to vote for the person most deserving of the coveted ‘People’s Choice Award.’

The Youth award is sponsored by Wayne Francis Charitable Trust. Other sponsors supporting the awards include: Invacare, ACC, Barfoot and Thompson, IHC Foundation, Drake Medox, Ministry of Health, Air New Zealand and Westpac.

Chief Executive of ACC Scott Pickering says ACC is proud to be principal sponsor of the awards for the seventh year, including sponsorship of the Attitude ACC Employer Award and the Attitude ACC Supreme Award.

"I'm really looking forward to this year's Attitude Awards, which are a significant event on New Zealand's calendar. Through celebrating excellence in the disability community and the important contributions made by New Zealanders with disabilities, the awards have the power to shift perceptions and to enhance lives."

For all the latest on the Awards and the Attitude Programme:
Like us on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/attitudetv
Follow us on twitter
https://twitter.com/attitude_tv

Watch previous awards footage at www.attitudelive.com

ENDS

© Scoop Media