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Rise’s Annual NYFW Survivor Fashion Show Advocates for Survivor Rights Globally

Rise, a pioneering civil rights accelerator, continues to champion the cause of survivors. At Forbes on Fifth, Rise hosted its Third Annual NYFW Survivor Fashion Show, a powerful event that aimed to reclaim the narrative surrounding survivors and propel the fight for their rights onto a global stage. The show, featuring prominent survivors and celebrity allies, marked an important step towards advocating for a multilateral treaty at the United Nations, a monumental endeavor to protect survivors worldwide.

Preeta Sinha, Founder of OneGreenPlanet.Org alongside Amanda N. Nguyen, Founder of Rise.

At the heart of Rise’s mission is the empowerment of survivors, giving them the tools and platform to script their own rights into existence. The NYFW Survivor Fashion Show serves as a symbol of this empowerment, challenging the stigma and misconceptions that often surround survivors of sexual assault. The show’s theme, “What were you wearing,” defiantly counters the invasive question survivors too often face, emphasizing that clothing is never an excuse for sexual violence.

The evening began with an inspiring speech from Rise’s founder and CEO, Amanda Nguyen, who has been a tireless advocate for survivors’ rights. The audience was treated to a captivating dance performance by the J Chen Project, choreographed by Jessica Chen and featuring dancers Chieh Hsiung, Maya Lam, Cameron Surh, and FangTing Yeh, set to the moving music of Papr Tape and adorned in costumes by Erica Johnston.

Amanda Nguyen, Rise founder and CEO, commented on the event saying, ” This show represents our continued fight for survivor rights everywhere, so that no matter their geography, survivors have access to justice systems that protect them and not their rapists. We are launching a multilateral treaty campaign for universal jurisdiction over sex crimes because ending impunity and protecting sexual assault survivors is the shared responsibility of the international community. It’s time we expand access to justice for all survivors.”

Additionally, spoken word poetry, “The Hill I Would Die On,” by Amanda Rose, resonated deeply with the audience, followed by a musical performance of “As it Seems” by Lily Kershaw. The runway showcased a powerful ensemble of survivors and celebrity allies, including Chloe Flower, Katie Phang, and Queen Astraea, as they walked with grace and resilience in designs by Brunello Cuccinelli, Safiyaa, La Double J, Chloe, Veronica Beard, Prabal Gurung, Peter Do, The Hundreds, and Båc Collection.

Amanda Nguyen, the driving force behind Rise, closed the show wearing a three-piece Brunello Cucinelli outfit—a brand historically supportive of Rise’s work. Her choice of attire set the tone for an evening filled with hope and strength. Other notable attendees included actress AnnaSophia Robb, Forbes Executive Vice President Moira Forbes, and writer/artist Chanel Miller, who all lent their Support to this essential cause. Additionally, One Green Planet founder, Preeta Sinha (pictured above), attended the event as a special guest. She said, “Every survivor’s journey is a testament to resilience and strength. Through fashion, we celebrate their indomitable spirit, reminding the world that their stories deserve to be heard and their rights protected. It was a beautiful experience seeing these brave women reclaim their voice and rewrite their narratives on the ramp during NYFW!”

To learn more about Rise, click here.

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