Sky's the limit for Nova Scotian fashion designer with Down syndrome

Marie Webb has an eye for fashion and she's hoping to take herfabric accessories to a wider international audience.

The 30-year-old designer from Halifax has Down syndrome. She already has runway shows and a solo exhibition at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia under her belt.

She describes her work as "colourful, joyful, comfortable, soft, practical, [and] creative."

On Friday, Webb and her mother, Renee Forrestall,helda virtual launch and fashion show for their new online accessories store called Necklings.

The Nova Scotia-made accessories feature prints of Webb'shand-drawn designs in an array of colour combinations. So far, the website offers, bags, scarves, face masks andneck tubes for sale.

According to Forrestall, an art teacher who works with other people with Down syndrome, the condition may be partly responsible for some of the beauty that Webb is able to convey in her work.

"There's a real interesting quality to it that is profound and beautiful and uniquely, I think, related to the culture of people with Down syndrome," Forrestall said.

For her part, Webb said she is inspired by "people, movies and art," adding that shealso draws inspiration from her hometown, holidays and the Pride parade.

Family support

During her many achievements, Webb's family has been with her every step of the way from spotting her artistic talent at the age of five to ensuring she got a post-secondary art education at home when art school wouldn't enrol her.

It helped that both of her parents teach art and know talent when they see it.

According to Forrestall, her sister, Millie, has also been very supportive,teaching her art and now helping to format her designs digitally to make them ready for printing.

As for what's next now that her fashion accessories store has been launched, Webb,a fan of Ru-Paul's Drag Race,said she wants to create "drag wear-inspired clothes and accessories" that people can wear every day.

Webb hopes her success will inspire other people with disabilities like Down syndrome to follow their dreams.

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