An International Women’s Day event in London will place stories of addiction, survival and recovery centre stage, as eight South Asian women prepare to share deeply personal journeys before stepping onto the catwalk.
The Fashion Brunch, now marking its seventh anniversary, returns on Sunday 8 March at the Sheraton Skyline Hotel London Heathrow with what organisers describe as its most courageous theme yet: “Addiction, Recovery & Reclaiming Identity”, under the campaign banner “No Shame, Just Stories of Survival.”
In a departure from traditional fashion showcases, the event will transform the runway into a platform for storytelling. Each speaker will share her personal experience of addiction or dependency before appearing on the catwalk in couture designs by designers Arinder Bhullar and Mona Lisa Sarees.
The women taking part come from a range of professional and personal backgrounds, but are united by their willingness to speak openly about struggles that often remain hidden within many communities.
Among them is Sejal Patel, who has spoken publicly about overcoming Class A drug addiction and domestic abuse, crediting motherhood as a turning point in rebuilding her life.
Jas Pone, recently featured in the Channel 4 documentary Saving Mum, will also appear, reflecting on her journey through grief and alcohol dependency, a story brought to screen by her daughter, author and filmmaker Maleena Pone.
Former police detective and TEDx speaker Nisha Chandra, widely known as the “Cockney Copper”, will share how she overcame a 12-year battle with alcohol and is now eight years sober.
Other participants include Reena Chotai, who speaks candidly about recovering after nearly four decades of alcohol and gambling addiction; Sonia Gupta, who has rebuilt her life after emotional and financial dependency left her in significant debt; and Kim Kaur, a Sikh woman and domestic abuse survivor who is now almost two decades drug-free and co-founder of the support network South Asian Females in Recovery.
They are joined by Lakhami Bhambra, who has spoken about losing tens of thousands of pounds to psychic scams following the loss of her father, and Jag Kumar, who chose sobriety at 39 in a bid to break cycles of generational trauma for her daughter.
Beyond the runway, the event will feature panel discussions, entertainment and networking, bringing together several hundred women from across business, creative industries and community organisations.
But organisers say the focus this year is less about glamour and more about creating space for difficult conversations.
By placing addiction and recovery at the heart of its International Women’s Day programme, the event aims to challenge long-standing stigma within South Asian communities and highlight the strength of those willing to speak openly about survival.
Event Details
The Fashion Brunch – International Women’s Day Edition
Theme: Addiction, Recovery & Reclaiming Identity
Location: Sheraton Skyline Heathrow
Date: Sunday 8 March
Time: 11:00am – 6:00pm
