Woven in courage, thread by thread.
This lab coat is a tribute to the invisible stitching of courage that brought a groundbreaking HIV prevention study to life. It represents the hope and vision of young girls and women who chose to shape the future of HIV prevention.
Imagine Dr. Flavia Matovu Kiweewa, a determined scientist who pushed the needle, thread by thread, designing protocols that would protect the vulnerable. She guided participants with care, fought for every ethical approval, and made quiet breakthroughs that were never overlooked.
Now, this coat stands as a continuation of that thread, symbolizing the power of prevention in protecting women and girls from HIV. With the introduction of long-acting injections, women now have more choices in how they protect themselves, giving them greater control over their health. These innovations are making prevention more accessible and helping us move closer to ending AIDS by 2030.
Where Science Meets Fashion
The design of the lab coat captures this journey through symbolic details:
- Two Red Buttons (fastened) at the Front:
The two buttons represent the two doses of the long-acting injection required for HIV prevention within a year. Positioned along the orbit of the sun, they symbolize the duration of the year. Just as the Earth completes its orbit around the sun, taking the two injections (represented by the buttons) provides protection against HIV. The buttons must be fastened to signify that the protection is sealed in. - The 100% Mark on the Pocket:
The “100%” on the pocket represents the confidence in the safety and efficacy of the two long-acting injections. Positioned on the pocket, it symbolizes that protection against HIV can be owned and carried, safely tucked away as a constant reminder of security - 5338
The number of lives that brought the long-acting HIV prevention innovation to life. It symbolizes the collective strength and resilience of women and girls who, alongside other young women and girls from around the world—both now and in the future—are living with a future free from HIV. This number is woven into the fabric of the coat, encircled by an African-inspired rope design. Like a belt, the rope ties the story together, symbolizing the interconnectedness of their journey that is woven with care, culture, and resilience.
The Fashion
On the fashion side, I was inspired by the idea that clothing can carry meaning beyond style. I saw this coat not just as a garment, but as a canvas for memory, activism, and healing.
What moved me most was the challenge of designing for protection and empowerment through choice, not just appearance. I wanted every detail from the red armor panels to the rope and embroidery to tell a story, to reflect the voices of these women.
I was also inspired by how traditional African crafts, like sisal rope and cultural pleating, could coexist with scientific achievement. This showed me that fashion can bridge the past and future, identity and innovation. This project has helped me see fashion as a language that can be used to tell the story of science through culture and fabric. As a designer, I’m inspired by fashion that tells the truth. This project has taught me that style can carry science, culture, and courage, and become a message you wear.
The lab coat project is a collaboration between Franklin Kitiibwa, a second-year medical student at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda, and Emille Ntakiyimana, a Rwandan fashion artist.
Special thanks to Gilead Sciences for sponsoring the HIV prevention study, and to Brent Allan and Alistair Hart of HIV Unwrapped for their invaluable support and guidance throughout this project.
We also acknowledge Belinda Agnes Namutebi for her coordination, creative input, and contribution to the development of the QR code content and storytelling behind the lab coat’s design.
