Hackney-based non-profit Hair & Care CIC, founded by award-winning hairstylist Anna Cofone, premiered a powerful new short film, Beyond Vision, showcasing the transformative power of beauty, self-expression, and inclusivity for blind and low vision women.
The intimate screening took place at the iconic Sea Containers, London on the 2 September, with HJ in attendance. The powerful film was both moved, inspiring and fully educational to an audience of Hair & Care attendees, hairdressers and press.
Hair & Care’s sensory-led, inclusive workshops are led by hair stylists and are a support system for blind and low vision women. Find out how to volunteer here.
The film was followed by a panel discussion featuring leading industry experts within fashion and beauty. The film explores the importance of inclusion and accessibility within these industries, and discusses ways to work towards a more inclusive and equitable future for all. The conversation was moderated by Maliha Shoaib (Vogue Business), with panelists including Blind Broadcaster and Activist Lucy Edwards, Designer Chet Lo, Beauty Director Alex Peters (Dazed Beauty), Deaf Blind Social Media Analyst at the RNIB, Jane Manley, and Hair & Care founder Anna Cofone.
What is the Beyond Vision Film?
Created in collaboration with Director Hector Hilleary, the film celebrates identity, self-expression, and visibility for blind and low‑vision women and girls, and features the incredible women and volunteers at the heart of Hair & Care’s community - who shared their experiences exploring empowering self care through Hair & Care’s sensory-led, inclusive workshops, and their insights and perspectives on the true meaning of beauty.
“Beyond Vision is a powerful reminder that beauty, identity, and creativity should be accessible to all," shares Founder Anna Cofone.
"At Hair & Care, we’re not just telling stories – we’re driving change. This film is part of our broader mission to challenge outdated norms and build a more inclusive beauty and fashion industry. It’s about visibility, equity, and ensuring that blind and low-vision women are fully represented where culture and self-expression take shape.”
Beyond individual stories, Beyond Vision highlights broader challenges in accessibility within fashion and beauty.
Hair & Care strives to create an accessible space for those in the sight loss community, challenging damaging misconceptions that blind and low vision people neither care about the way they look nor are interested in being a part of these highly visual industries. Largely excluded from fashion and beauty, blind and low vision people are often left disconnected from a vital part of personal identity and expression. Through its pioneering Making Fashion Accessible initiative, (as seen in British Vogue & BBC) where the foundation partners with designers to make their Fashion Week shows accessible to blind audiences - Hair & Care opens up space to young VI people with ambition to pursue pathways in creative industries - inspiring creativity and empowerment.
Hair & Care's Mission in Fashion
Since 2024 Hair & Care has worked across London and Copenhagen Fashion Weeks, developing accessible shows with the likes of Roksanda, Chet Lo, SS Daley and Sinead O’Dwyer, and will continue its mission this year, with plans underway for September’s London Fashion Week.
‘’I'm so excited to be part of this event. The speakers on the panel bring industry expertise, deep care and empathy for the barriers those with sight loss face when navigating fashion and beauty – and, most importantly, lived experience. Hair & Care is pioneering a new inclusive and accessible lens for engaging with the industry, and I'm excited to amplify it in any way I can. I hope the audience leaves feeling empowered to act and create lasting change’’ - Maliha Shoaib - Reporter, Vogue Business
"Hair & Care you were that thing I needed when I was that little Lucy going through sight loss because you give me the confidence to feel gorgeous about my hair." - Lucy Edwards - Blind Broadcaster and Activist
“My favourite thing about working with Hair & Care is how it's been such an amazing introduction into such incredible people. It's taught me how to be more inclusive and also helped me to understand what this demographic of women need - so it's helped me to design in a more inclusive and creative way”. - Chet Lo, Designer
"It has been so inspiring to witness the important work Anna Cofone and Hair & Care have been doing over the last few years and the barriers they have already broken in the fashion industry. I’m very proud to have the chance to contribute to and be a part of this event, alongside so many inspiring people." - Alex Peters - Beauty Director, DAZED Beauty
“From a professional point of view at RNIB, I analyse how inclusive design, and accessible storytelling can shift industry norms - not just as compliance, with the legal requirements often forgotten, but as creativity and care in action. Changing the perspectives of those with low and no vision about what is out there, how to find your Tribe, but also of sighted people realising you don't have to see it to enjoy and participate in it.” - Jane Manley - Deaf Blind Social Media Analyst, RNIB
Beyond Vision invites audiences to see beyond traditional notions of beauty and engage with a more inclusive vision of the fashion and beauty industry. It is both a celebration and a call to action - exploring what it means for both brands and consumers when the sight loss community is considered and included.
