While fashion weeks are wrapping up all over the couture savvy side of the globe, this week on October 10, Tuesday, East London had a very different show to look forward to. ActionAid put forward a fashion show with eight acid attack survivors from Bangladesh walking the ramp.

At 7pm London time, Farah Kabir, Country Director of ActionAid Bangladesh, opened the event with her promise of a different evening. Acid attacks, one of the most heinous crimes, cannot daunt the strength and inner beauty of the survivors- is what the show aimed to project.

Farah Kabir introduced Nahar, one of the survivors and participants of the show, who has played a key role in establishing the ActionAid network for acid survivors styled 'Setu Bandhan Gori.' Nahar has been with ActionAid Bangladesh for the last twelve years and has constantly worked with other survivors to reach for the better side of life. 

Before the survivors took the runway, voices of survivors and their statements were presented to the audience. It should be noted that the the voices were from individuals who had stories of their trauma including FGM, rape as well as the focus of the day. 

The runway opened with 15-year-old Sonali, who was left burned and scarred when an intruder threw the corrosive liquid into her family home when she was just 17 days old. The highlight of the show was how jovially two of the survivors- Nahar(already introduced) and Ganga danced during the show. The upbeat folk music even drew in the attendees and the runway turned into a dancefloor! 

ActionAid Uk's Chief Executive Officer, Girish Menon, applauded this energized ambience. He mentioned Bangladesh's acid regulation legislation made in 2002 as a step towards abolishing oppression of women, and the inherent violence. While the report of acid attacks in Bangladesh has dropped from 400 per year to 100 a year, Menon strongly voiced that even one attack was one too many. 

The show ended with wholehearted cheer and applause from the crowds as Bibi Russell was welcomed to the runway as the creative thought and choreographer behind the show. For hair and make-up, Farzana Shakil was greeted alongside the survivors. 

The core message of the show was that life was not over for the survivors. And there should never be any shame in living life after the incident. The fashion show stood as a contrast to the shame that the survivors are imposed with and showed them at their most confident.

The fashion show was livecast on Facebook. Viewers and interested people are encouraged to view the video from https://www.facebook.com/actionaiduk and spread its worthy message.

By Iris Farina

Photo courtesy: Refinery29