A pioneering artistic initiative in Cyprus has used fashion design to visually interpret mental health conditions, aiming to raise awareness and challenge long-standing mental health stigma.
The “Fashion Fighting Stigma” event brought together designers, students and mental health advocates to transform complex psychiatric conditions into symbolic garments, using fabric, colour and texture to represent lived experiences.
Creative designs give form to invisible conditions
The exhibition featured powerful visual interpretations of conditions such as chronic depression, schizophrenia, eating disorders and anxiety disorders.
Designers used contrasting materials and themes – including dark floral motifs, layered textiles and protective cloaks – to express emotional states and internal psychological struggles.
Organisers said the aim was to highlight that behind every diagnosis there is a person, a story and a life that continues beyond clinical labels.
Initiative supported by Cyprus institutions and EU framework
The project was held under the auspices of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2026 and received support from public institutions and academic partners.
Students from UCLan Cyprus participated alongside established Cypriot fashion designers, under the scientific guidance of mental health professionals.
Organisers noted that the initiative is expected to travel internationally, extending its message beyond Cyprus.
Breaking stigma through lived experience
The initiative was inspired by mental health advocate and “Expert by Experience” Polyg Grigora, who said fashion can act as a powerful medium to communicate experiences that are often invisible.
She stressed that mental health conditions are frequently misunderstood because they are not physically visible, unlike other illnesses.
Call for education and awareness
Advocates involved in the project emphasised that stigma is largely driven by lack of knowledge and misinformation.
They called for stronger education efforts, particularly among young people, to promote understanding, acceptance and early help-seeking behaviour.
The project concluded with a broader message: that addressing mental health stigma requires both social awareness and open dialogue across communities.
Also read: What this Frida Kahlo painting tells us about her most intimate vulnerabilities
For more videos and updates, check out our YouTube channel
