Arabic version: روشل غريغوري تشارك رحلة صحتها النفسية من خلال فيلم الموضة

Fashion designer Rochelle Gregory, who runs fashion label Rocky Rafaela, has laid bare her mental health battle in a short film screened during her latest runway show. According to ABC News, the film highlights her journey through various mental health challenges, including borderline personality disorder and depression.

Gregory’s career took off in 2018 when actress Ruby Rose wore one of her custom leather jackets in a cosmetics campaign. However, while her fashion career flourished, she faced significant personal battles. After launching Rocky Rafaela in 2016, she used her work as a means to cope with her inner demons, which included hospitalizations and struggles with self-harm.

Recently, a decade after launching the label, she hosted a self-funded runway show as part of Melbourne Fashion Week to declare she is back with a new collection and a story to share. The 12-minute film serves as both a narrative of her struggles and a message of hope, emphasizing her journey towards self-acceptance and healing.

Now working as an ambassador with Lifeline, Gregory has initiated a T-shirt collaboration to raise funds for mental health awareness. She reflects on her past traumas and the transformative power of her fashion, stating, “I turned pain into power and have never been one to follow trends. My fashion has always been about a lived experience.”

Gregory’s commitment to her mental health has been strengthened by her sobriety, achieved two and a half years ago. She aims to inspire others facing similar challenges through her story, stating, “I wanted to take people on a journey of my life; and show them that while my life started out quite dark, I have transformed it into light and who I am today.”