May is lupus awareness month, and this week T&C attended the Lupus Revolution Volume 2 – a fashion showcase of confidence and resilience. Every May, communities around the world come together to spread awareness about lupus, whilst celebrating the strength and passion of those with lupus. 

Dressed in touches of purple (the colour associated with lupus), guests gathered to the Eaton Club to watch the runway, listen to heartwarming speeches and educate themselves. This event was more than a fashion show, it gave us all the power to redefine beauty and hope, whilst learning more about lupus.

Founded by three lupus warriors, My Lupus Diary is a non-profit organisation supporting and empowering lupus patients, as well as spreading awareness about the condition. Lupus is a long-term, autoimmune condition which has physical and mental health symptoms. It is an invisible illness, and this means that it is often invisible to the rest of society. Through this event, and the work of MLD, lupus has been made visible to Hong Kong society.

IMMERSIVE ART EXHIBITIONS

The immersive art exhibition, led by Jacqueline Hester, allowed guests to experience the physical sensations of lupus, including blurred vision, muscle spasms and muscle weakness, showcasing the importance of empathy for conditions you can’t see. These are some of the many sensations lupus patients constantly experience, which means that activities, such as walking down a runway, require more focus and resilience. 

THE FASHION SHOWCASE

Hosted by Vincent Tang, the main event was the incredible fashion showcase. Supermodel Janet Ma coached 11 beautiful lupus warriors down the runway. Each walk and pose was distinct to each model – just as every outfit, styled by Bebe Mak, was unique. At one point, one of the lupus warriors tripped and fell on the catwalk. With the support of Janet Ma, she got back up and they walked down the runway together. This was a beautiful moment of resilience and strength. Midway through the show, Ping nam and Yonex performed a powerful dance which encapsulated the running theme of the event – courage and self-expression. Then, dressed in purple, the warriors returned for one final walk down the runway. The show ended with the audience showing their support through applause for the 11 radiant lupus warriors, this truly demonstrates our strength through unity. 

MLD co-founder Sapphire Shen gave a heartfelt speech of hope and bravery, prompting an emotional response from the audience. She discussed a heartbreaking story about people online reducing a man to his lupus illness. These kinds of narratives can be destructive and dehumanising to lupus patients. Lupus, and other illnesses, are often deeply tied to one’s identity. However, Sapphire made it clear that “having lupus doesn’t mean you don’t have the right to live beautifully”. Creativity and fashion are also sites of identity. Fashion is crucial to exploring and expressing our individuality. It was incredible to see each lupus warrior express themselves how they desired, and by doing so, they redefined beauty and power. 

Sapphire’s main message was to “be kind or be quiet”. This slogan was also printed on the MLD t-shirts being sold at the event. As the guests were watching the runway and learning about lupus, there was truly a sense of kindness, support and community. It was beautiful to see Sapphire’s words reflected in the energy of the guests.

THE EVENT

The day didn’t end there, with countless support coming through for the event. Following founder Sapphire’s speech, DJ BB Lamb changed the tone and focus back to the uplifting community with her set. Lucie Petit got everyone involved with the model experience leading a workshop for the guests, and Sara’s Henna offered beautiful henna designs to remember the night by. Accompanied by custom made purple drinks by Dead Poets society to match the theme, it was clear how many people this event touched.

There is still much to look forward to including a documentary showcasing the lives of two lupus warriors. The documentary, directed by Marie Yi-Qing Bouvéron, will be released soon, and will be an amazing extension to this meaningful work with My Lupus Diary.

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