German fashion designer Anja Gockel invited athletes and fellow members of the Special Olympics movement to her Berlin studio to design new t-shirts in an inclusive workshop.
Using the elements of the logo of the Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023, the young fashion designers have developed new shirts for the Special Olympics webshop.
They placed particular emphasis on incorporating and rearranging as many elements of the logo as possible. Above all, the shirts should be colorful, just as colorful and diverse as inclusion.
"Inclusion is one of the most important topics of democracy for me. As a creative, I love to create unity out of diversity. Intellectual disability is the most natural diversity. The Special Olympics integrate this group of wonderful people into our society, supporting the participation of all," says Anja Gockel, fashion designer and supporter of the Special Olympics movement.
Intellectual disability is the most natural diversity.
In addition to Dennis Mellentin, cyclist and Special Olympics Berlin athlete spokesperson, and Special Olympics activist Arthur Hackenthal, also Miriam Rehbein participated in the workshop with Anja Gockel.
For the inclusive employee as event inclusion manager at the Local Organizing Committee of the Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023, this was a completely new experience: "I'm actually not that fashion-conscious. For me, fashion just has to look good, I really like colors and therefore find colorful designs great. I really enjoyed the workshop with Anja because I was able to try something new and be creative."
With her team, designer Anja Gockel has already designed clothing for numerous inclusive events.
By the way: The shirts of the young fashion designers will be produced in the coming weeks and will be available in the Special Olympics webshop from fall.
