Celebrating ‘Creativity Alongside Purpose’: TCD Friends of MSF’s Charity Fashion Show Takes to the Runway

“Lights dimmed, and a rhythmic soundtrack blared as dozens of models took to the stage in the GMB on March 27th, as TCD Friends of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) hosted their first charity fashion show. Established on campus last year, Friends of MSF is a student-run society whose mission includes raising funds for the international, nonpartisan humanitarian organisation Médecins Sans Frontières , and promoting an awareness of global health topics on campus. Since 1971, MSF (also known by its English translation, “Doctors Without Borders”) has assisted in healthcare crises and emergencies around the world, providing medical care in over 70 countries. As the night’s emcee, Gabriel Bakker, stated in an informative and moving speech that opened the show, MSF “provide care to anyone in need regardless of nationality, religion, ethnicity or political affiliation, treating people based solely on urgency and medical need. In a world often divided, MSF stands for humanity above all else”. Emphasising that MSF rely entirely on public donations to carry out their work, Gabrel explained how “events like tonight are not just symbolic, they are essential”, as “every ticket purchased, every raffle entered, every euro raised contributes directly to ensuring that MSF can continue to show up in the darkest moments, in the hardest places and provide care to those who need it most”. In support of this worthy cause, designers Mihai Mar, Aisling Duffy, Aoife Lifestyle, Hollie Marie Gallagher, Mar Kubiak, Anna Rave, Natalie Coleman, Julian Hauxwell, Povukk, Sinéad O’Brien, Ellen O’Donoghue and Assisi all contributed stunning pieces to the runway, which were modelled on Trinity students. The show was hosted in collaboration with DU Players, who managed the atmospheric lighting, which bathed the GMB in shades of blue. The Dublin-based DJ Manwelli provided the soundtrack, which aptly featured iconic songs like Madonna’s “Vogue”. From the clothing to the lighting, to the music, each of these unique elements (and the individuals behind them) worked in tandem to create what was a truly dynamic show. The show opened with the designs of Ellen O’Donoghue, whose collection reimagined “childhood comfort through an ethereal lens”. O’Donoghue’s two-piece collection, respectively, featured midi and maxi pale pink ruffled dresses, the delicate textures of which were designed “to feel light and dreamlike, evoking both emotional warmth and quiet femininity”. Up next was the designer Mar Kubiak, whose brand MARMAR was showcased in Dublin’s Independent Fashion Week in September 2025. Inspired by human anatomy and biodiversity, MARMAR’s collection focused on the organic, with embroidered dresses and handmade, ruffled scarves, emphasising their commitment to breathing new life into clothes through sustainable practices like upcycling. A series of looks from the brand Assisi shortly followed, whose designs are crafted to align with their aesthetic of “high-end luxury 2000s era fashion”. Stand-out pieces from Assisi included an elegant, classic black dress paired with an oversized, cream knitted cardigan, and a combination which brought together a black midi skirt, a tailored cream knitted top and white cowboy boots. Other notable looks from the night included the designs of Sinéad O’Brien, whose collection UPROOTED expressed a “deeply personal exploration of identity, belonging and coming of age, shaped by a multicultural upbringing and many moves between places and cultures”. O’Brien’s collection experimentally played with texture, as captured in one memorable look which paired an orange plaid maxi skirt with a sheer, netted black top. The designs of Aisling Duffy, which debuted at Dublin Independent Fashion Week, were also particularly striking, featuring whimsical, nostalgic childhood prints and accessories such as teddy bears. Designer Julian Hauxwell, the creator behind the clothing brand Fior, also left his mark in a design that merged Asian cultures, as a Japanese-style kimono constructed from the material of an Indian sari shone on the runway. As the show came to a close, Chairperson of TCD Friends of MSF, Parinta Arora, expressed the significance of creative mediums like fashion in mobilising action: “What’s been the most amazing is seeing how much this has expanded beyond just medical students, bringing together people from across the wider college community. It’s been so special for us to create something that blends medicine and the arts and to celebrate creativity alongside purpose. That kind of just reflects what MSF stands for. It’s not just made up of doctors; it depends on nurses, engineers, coordinators, and so many others working together to deliver care where it’s needed most”. As I later quizzed the Vice Chair of TCD Friends of MSF, Anna Machacek, on why they specifically chose to raise funds through a fashion show, she reiterated Parinta’s earlier statement: “We wanted to involve the wider college community. That’s been our main objective since we established ourselves as a society. While the name may be ‘Doctors Without Borders’, it’s a huge organisation, and in order to facilitate doctors giving aid to neglected places, they have many people working for them. They have lawyers, engineers, everything. A lot of people don’t realise that they could potentially work for MSF, so we wanted to make that known to people. Doctors are actually a small part of the staff”. Expressing the society’s desire to “share MSF’s work with everyone”, Anna explained how “the best way to do that is through a creative event. Something extravagant like a fashion show will draw people from everywhere – from all courses”. Anna’s statement proved true; a resounding success, the fashion show reportedly raised over €2,200, roughly 24% more than the cumulative €1776.35 the society raised in the entirety of last year. By fusing creativity and purpose, the show highlighted the role creative outlets like fashion play in inspiring collective action, and the importance of such events in supporting the humanitarian work of charities such as MSF.

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