Beyond the Runway: A Story of Dreams and Inclusion

Not all revolutions begin with manifestos or grand declarations. Some are born in the intimacy of a memory, in the careful gesture of someone who carries another's dream. And this is how Paula Lubianca teaches us that fashion's true transformation happens when our individual dreams become open doors for everyone.

Organising the Future of Fashion felt like weaving threads from many lives into a single tapestry. It wasn't just a runway; it was a ritual. And within it, I carried the memory of my maternal grandmother, who dreamt of shining at Fashion Week. She passed away last year, but she was with me on 20th September 2025. Whilst I tended to the show's details, I felt her dream breathing through every gesture. This was a gift for my grandmother, but it also allowed me to pursue my own dream.

Paula was part of the team that brought the Future of Fashion Show to life, an official event of London Fashion Week. Many admirable qualities mark her story. Paula lives with cerebral palsy, diagnosed with spastic hemiparesis at birth. She shares this journey with her triplet siblings, who also received the same diagnosis.

Living with cerebral palsy has never deterred Paula from pursuing her ambitions. Her journey took her from Brazil to Barcelona, where she is currently pursuing a master's degree in International Business, proving that physical limitations need not define one's aspirations.

She also founded Inclua-se, a platform dedicated to promoting inclusion for people with cerebral palsy, transforming her lived experience into advocacy for others. Paula carries limitations, but these do not define her ambitions.

The left side of my body has its own rhythm; my hand takes time to fasten buttons, my foot walks on tiptoe, ever so slowly. It's not the absence of movement; both sides of my body work at different tempos.

Paula recognises herself, however, as a privileged person in her journey, having grown up in a home where resources for her treatment were never lacking and, more importantly, where emotional support was constant. It was in this nurturing environment that her confidence flourished, and she developed the capacity to forge a path that transcends personal benefit, transforming into a source of inspiration for so many living with disabilities. And it was through her grandmother's touching story that Paula not only discovered her passion for the fashion universe but also awakened a profound desire to support projects that illuminate the importance of inclusion and diversity.

In the backstage of Future of Fashion, Paula found herself immersed in something far greater than she had imagined. Beyond her enchantment with the contagious joy and passion that overtook everyone, she witnessed how this special energy transformed the event, breaking away from traditional fashion patterns. What emerged was a space where diversity reigned as protagonist and inclusion came alive through each person's unique identity and essence, celebrated in design and beauty that honoured everyone's singularity.

Being part of this project was an honour, a reminder that being in previously inaccessible spaces isn't merely a personal achievement, but also a collective responsibility. It's not walking alone; it's walking together towards something greater than simply walking the runways.

The fashion universe has awakened to the necessity of inclusion and diversity, though it still treads with timid steps in this direction. It's fundamental to train a new generation of professionals who go beyond creating pieces for the runways, professionals capable of seeing and addressing the genuine yearning of people who wish to see themselves represented in catalogues, on magazine pages, and in shop windows. Only thus can fashion's future be truly plural, encompassing people with disabilities and all conditions that deviate from traditionally established standards.

I hope people carry the experience of their differences, not only backstage, but also in decision-making positions, the spaces where discourse becomes practice. Diversity cannot be a cost, but rather an investment in humanity,

And thus the ancestral dream took form through a new generation. In the event's backstage, amidst the flashes and collaborative work imbued with affection, Paula discovered the true meaning of belonging, the understanding that everyone there, with their differences and particularities, was an essential thread in that story's tapestry.

As a final gift from this conversation, Paula offers:

My inspiration was born amongst my family, but meeting Samanta Bullock gave my personal objective even greater strength. Echoing this same purpose, I have today the immense privilege and pleasure of being part of the Bullock Inclusion team, which creates spaces and, by being present, pioneers more inclusive futures.

At Bullock Inclusion, we create spaces and pioneer more inclusive futures because diversity isn't a cost, it's an investment in humanity. We're proud that Paula Lubianca was part of the dedicated team that made our London Fashion Week event a reality. Living with cerebral palsy and pursuing her dreams internationally, Paula embodies everything we stand for.