“Fashion Fighting Stigma” is a movement that began in Cyprus and is now set to travel abroad, using clothes to mirror mental health disorders in order to help distigmatise them. Depression is represented with dark colours, including black roses, schizophrenia with patterns, and different fabrics, and eating disorders with heavy wool.
The social artistic invitation took place due to European Mental Health Month, aiming to spread awareness about mental health diagnoses and humanise those diagnosed. Phileleftheros spoke with Poly Grigora, who inspired the initiative, and is an Expert by Experience and Mental Health Advocate, having been diagnosed herself.
The event was supported by the Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2026, and embraced by state institutions. Well-known Cypriot fashion designers attended the show, as well as the Fashion Design students of UCLan Cyprus, with the guidance of psychologist Dr Eleni Karagianni.
Poly Grigora has said that her goal was to give face to disorders that are not visible. “To be understood by a society that does not recognise mental health issues. I thought of the garment, because it is a cloth used by humans to cover themselves up.”
Grigora’s involvement in mental health, she said, began with her own personal experience. “I have a particular diagnosis that is the same as someone close to me,” she said, adding that she took action to contribute to society, using her own experience to help others who are going through something similar.
She also works with Cyprus University of Technology, the Mental Health Services, and the only mental health podcast in Cyprus.
Grigora notes that mental illnesses “are not like a broken leg, that can be seen and helped. If I’m going through a chronic depression, or schizophrenia, all I’m left with is the label. So my goal is to break the stigma. There are too many people suffering in Cyprus and, unfortunately, our country is first in the European Union in stigmatisation.”
In addition to this, she points out that the stigma only exists due to a lack of knowledge, which is why believes the state must invest in the education of youth and children, as breaking a taboo will increase the amount of individuals who feel they can ask for hep, as well as the amount of individuals who would help them.
“Labels do harm to people in general. What is important is the acceptance of any diagnosis and the search for help, for both the person and their family,” she noted.
The distance from disturbance is small
“Anyone can go through a period of sadness or stress. It’s just that some people have more serious episodes and require help so it doesn’t get worse. I decided to make my experience into a story for the world. Here is how to emerge victorious by continuing to run the marathon of life. Sometimes slowly, sometimes, a little faster. Everyone at their own pace,” Grigora stated.
“My family and I went through a lot of difficulties. I’m not brave. But if my darkest hours can empower someone else, if I save a person, then I am a double winner,” she said.
A number of designers presented at the fashion show each presenting a different disorder, working for free. The initiative was assisted by psychologist Dr Eleni Karagianni, who offered scientific guidance, with Fani Ioannou who offered up her voice for the event.
The presenters
Andreas Zannetidis – Borderline Personality Disorder
Haris Charalambous – Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Kristia Charalambous – Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Ioanna Economou – Chronic Depression Disorder
Leonie – Substance Abuse Disorder
Vanessa – Anxiety Disorder
Sofia Kouvarou – Schizophrenia
Marianna Penga – Eating Disorders
Saro Jacques – Dementia
Vasiliki Charitonos – Panic Attacks
Pantelis Panteli – Fighting Stigma Concept
Additionally, two groups of UCLan Cyprus students on Autism and ADHD.
How the designers envisioned the disorders
Phileleftheros spoke to some designers of “Fashion Fighting Stigma” to find out how they understood and materialised the disorders they presented.
Sofia Kouvarou designed Schizophrenia, describing the disorder as a challenge. “My main source of inspiration for the drawing was hallucinations. At first, the garment looks simple and minimal, with monochrome and neutral tones. Yet when the internal layers of the garment are revealed, where there are various techniques and materials, they mirror the noise created by these hallucinations.”
Ioanna Economou took on chronic depression, stating that she chose black as a colour and well as the cyclical shape, “influenced by the duration, so I made roses. I wanted to show that even is something looks like a repetitive cycle, there is the potential to transform it into something beautiful.”
Vasiliki Charitonos described panic attacks as a multifaceted disorder, inspired by her own personal experience. “I wanted it to look like water, as it helps you reset yourself.”
Marianna Penga, who presented eating disorders, aimed to make a garment that would make the wearer feel secure. “I made something like a cloak-cape, made of raw wool. The lines on the design symbolise the skeleton of the body.”
