An Army of Women event to be staged this week brings together haute couture and philanthropy

This month Cyprus will witness a confluence of fashion, art and philanthropy, as the Limassol Branch of the Cyprus Red Cross Society joins forces with acclaimed curator and fashion critic Filep Motwary for a one-of-a-kind cultural celebration.

Titled An Army of Women, the haute couture showcase by Cypriot designer Maria Neoptolemou is scheduled for Wednesday at the private Pyrga residence of Nicos and Myrna Pattichis. The evening unfolds under the auspices of the President Nikos Christodoulides.

But this is far more than a fashion show.

At its heart, An Army of Women is a homage to womanhood. A dramatic tableau vivant curated by Motwary, the event seeks to portray the many incarnations of the female archetype — from goddess and mother to warrior and muse — across time.

The garments, designed by Neoptolemou, serve not only as couture statements but also as cultural artefacts, each carrying echoes of strength, resilience, and beauty. They will be showcased in conversation with pieces from the CYCO (Cyprus Contemporary) Collection, creating a compelling visual dialogue between form and fine art.

“This is not just a fashion show,” says Motwary. “It’s a meditation on the body as a message — a canvas where memory, identity and power converge.”

A key figure on the European fashion and art scene, Motwary brings a layered curatorial voice to the evening. Best known as Editor-at-Large for Vogue Greece and a long-time contributor to Dapper Dan magazine, his resume includes landmark exhibitions such as Haute-à-Porter at Belgium’s Modemuseum Hasselt and SYNERGY: Art into Fashion at the AG Leventis Gallery in Nicosia.

Beyond the glossy pages and runways, Motwary has served as a mentor and academic voice for young creatives, consistently bridging the classical with the contemporary. His involvement in An Army of Women lends the event a rare intellectual gravitas.

Set against the stately yet welcoming grounds of the Pattichis residence in Pyrga, the evening promises an immersive sensory experience. The home itself — rich in architectural character — will transform into a stage where fabric, light and sound mix.

As part of the 70th anniversary celebrations of the Phileleftheros Group, the event also honours the legacy of Cypriot media in shaping cultural memory and civic engagement.

Guests can expect a series of visual and performative moments: structured silhouettes, tactile textures, emotional storytelling, and thought-provoking installations. And yet, beneath the surface spectacle, lies a deeper humanitarian purpose.

All proceeds from the evening will benefit the Cyprus Red Cross Society’s Social Welfare Programme — a vital initiative supporting the island’s most vulnerable communities.

“Fashion can be frivolous, but it can also be revolutionary,” says Neoptolemou. “Every look in An Army of Women is a protest, a memory, a hymn.”

In a world increasingly drawn to spectacle, An Army of Women chooses instead to provoke reflection — on beauty, on strength and on our collective capacity to uplift.

As seats are limited and interest is mounting, those wishing to attend or support the cause are urged to contact the Cyprus Red Cross Society Limassol Branch directly.

This is more than a fashion event. It’s an artistic intervention, a statement of unity, and an elegant call to action. In celebrating women through the lens of design and art, An Army of Women becomes a reminder that beauty is not just something we see — but something we stand for.