On the New York runway, our HIV cure‑directed research stepped out of the lab and into the fashion spotlight. The design made one thing clear: science can be beautiful, bold, and deeply personal—and it belongs in every room, from the clinic to Fashion Week. In that moment, people leaned in, asked questions, and saw HIV not as a headline or data point, but as a human story with the power to change hearts.

Luis J. Montaner

• Professor and Founding Director, HIV Cure and Viral Diseases Centre
• The Wistar Institute

HIV Unwrapped has exemplified that fields such as fashion and science which are considered largely separate can come together in a cohesive collaboration. Projects such as HIV Unwrapped are so important because the collaboration between science and fashion allows for an interpretation of a vastly complex field which opens the doors to so many others to get involved.

James Nuttney

• Founder
• Vol. 2. Design

This is truly a unique, wonderful, and inspiring project. I am so proud of my design student collaborator and deeply amazed by his creativity and imagination. I am so much in awe of his masterpiece – it both powerfully captures the science and beautifully conveys the story. This international project is a testament that indeed, we can bridge the arts and humanities with science and activism!

Renzo R. Guinto, MD DrPH

• Associate Professor of Global and Planetary Health
• SingHealth Duke-NUS Global Health Institute
• Duke-NUS Medical School, National University of Singapore

Being part of the HIV Unwrapped project moved me in ways I never thought it would. When I first saw our creation, I felt something inside me pause. His design isn’t just stunning, it somehow reflects the spirit of my research, the struggle, the hope, the humanity behind it. Seeing science and art meet so naturally, so honestly, touched me in a way I wasn’t expecting.

Elena Herrera-Carrillo

• Principal investigator
• Institute of Parasitology and Biomedicine “López-Neyra” (IPBLN)
• Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Spain

Taking part in HIV Unwrapped has truly been an honour. It is a meaningful opportunity for me to use my design language to uplift communities living with HIV. I am deeply grateful for Dr. Michelle Cespedes’ insight and guidance in creating our garment, as well as to everyone who helped bring this project to life.4

Karina Barki

• Parsons School of Design, NYC

This was one of the most fun, but challenging, collaborations of my professional life. My fashion design partner and I had to learn one another’s “language”.  The result was a gorgeous lab coat where every element had meaning, and to hear her describe it was incredibly moving.

Penny Moore, PhD

• Research Professor
• University of the Witwatersrand

This project didn’t just give me a platform; it gave me purpose. It opened my eyes to how fashion can move beyond style to create social change, connect with science, and become a true tool for global impact.

Emile Ntakiyimana

• IPRC Fashion design Student

The project not only enhanced our students technical skills but also broadened their understanding of fashion’s role in communicating complex concepts and ideas. Your innovative approach to merging fashion and science has inspired our students to think creatively and explore new possibilities. We are grateful for the impact this project has had on our students’ growth and development.

JAMBO Jean D’Amour

• Head of Creative Arts Department
• Integrated Rwanda Polytechnic – Kigali College
• 19 July 2025

Fashion and trends aren’t exactly my field, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. My partner designer captured everything we had discussed and brought it to life in his lab coat design in a way that exceeded all my expectations. I believe these kinds of activities, which bring the topic of HIV into a more accessible, creative, and even playful space—far from the strict boundaries of hard science—are incredibly valuable.

Dra. Claudia Cortés Moncada

• Associate Professor, Universidad de Chile
• IAS Governing Council Member
• 24 July 2025

This remarkable project exemplifies the innovative spirit and collaborative effort that drives our mission forward. This initiative highlights our commitment to integrating diverse perspectives but also underscores the power of creativity in advancing HIV awareness and education. By fostering collaboration between the community and scientists, we are putting people first, being evidence-based and open-minded, building bridges, and collaborating.

Ariane Brusselmans

• Director, Conferences
• International AIDS Society
• 25 July 2025

Allowing individuals from different backgrounds and industries to come together on a global level, sharing our work and creating something that reflects this. Proving that it doesn’t matter where you come from, we can all come together to create something magical.

Harlene del Rosario

I have worked with HIV for over 30 years; I have never come across anything like this project. These garments help make my 84-year-old mother understand HIV better than she has ever done.

Ophelia Haanyama

• PositHIVa Gruppen

HIV Unwrapped translates complex HIV science into powerful art in a way that is accessible, human and deeply impactful, challenging stigma and sparking connection. Being involved has made me reflect on the importance of centering people, partnership and community in the HIV response.

Dr Nneka Nwokolo

• Head of Patient Engagement
• ViiV Healthcare

Bringing together the worlds of art and science is a powerful way to challenge stigma and inspire hope. At Gilead, we believe progress often comes from unexpected collaborations and this show blends science, creativity, and innovation to rewrite the story of HIV.

Shreya Jani

• Senior Vice President, Public Affairs
• Gilead Sciences

HIV Unwrapped reimagines how we tell the story of HIV. By blending science, fashion, and lived experience, it moves the conversation beyond statistics to centre people. In this way it confronts stigma, amplifies voices and reshapes how communities see, understand and engage with HIV.

Vanessa Apea

• Barts Health NHS Trust / Queen Mary University of London, United Kingdom

HIV has never just been about the virus or about health; it is about people, their lives and their communities. Art and fashion can tell stories, make connections, disrupt stigma and mobilize action in ways that science and healthcare can’t – which is why HIV Unwrapped is so important, especially now. Although enormous progress has been made over the past 45 years, we have much work to do to end the epidemic and advance equity, and HIV Unwrapped can help accelerate both.

Mitchell Warren

• Executive Director
• AVAC

Starting small in Australia, HIV Unwrapped proves that science shouldn’t be confined to the lab. By translating complex HIV research into art, it makes knowledge visible, sparks curiosity, and challenges stigma in new and innovative ways. The unique way this project pairs together scientific advancement and artistic expression to spark conversation, humanise science, and confront outdated narratives has resonated with community and clinicians globally. We’re excited to see this project continue to evolve and grow as other countries localise this initiative.

Dr Christopher Johnston

• Country Medical Director – Australia
• ViiV Healthcare