AJ Narayan wearing Jaslar Pearl Photographed by Lucid Dreams Imagery Styled by The Bella Styling Co.

VALOR: Men’s Fashion Review brought more than impeccable menswear to the Gold Coast.
It brought honesty, vulnerability and a powerful reminder that masculinity, at its core, is human.

The day opened with intention. Tim Fisk from the Complete Man Foundation joined the models for a morning workshop, grounding them in self-awareness and presence before the runway lights ever came on. As the afternoon unfolded, Miami Marketta filled with heat, excitement and the electric pressure of creation. Every corner of the space pulsed with anticipation, fear, focus and heart.

That atmosphere carried into the evening when Akbar stepped onto the stage and spoke from a place of truth. He reframed what VALOR stands for in a way that cut straight through the noise.

Zoran Knezevic wearing Frokensteen Clothing Photographed by Lucid Dreams Imagery Styled by The Bella Styling Co.

“VALOR isn’t just about menswear. It’s about modern masculinity, stripped of outdated expectations and redefined through art, through identity and through courage. Because let’s be honest: the bravest thing a man can do today isn’t about being the toughest in the room. It’s about being real. Real with who you are. Real with what you feel. Real with what you carry, even when no one sees it.” 

“And that’s why I’m here tonight, not just to celebrate fashion, but to talk about something that runs just as deep. Mental health.”

With that, he shifted the conversation from fashion to something deeper and more universal.

Marco Turro Photographed by Lucid Dreams Imagery

He reminded the room that courage does not always look like a cinematic hero charging into danger.
“When we hear the word courage, most of us imagine something loud, like a hero in an action movie running into danger without flinching. But I’ve come to learn that courage isn’t always that obvious. Sometimes, courage is getting out of bed. It’s admitting you’re not okay. It’s asking for help when your mind tells you you’re a burden.”

Akbar’s honesty echoed the emotional journey many experience in silence. He shared glimpses of his own battles, the days when everything felt heavy, the moments when pretending to be fine felt easier than speaking up. His story reminded the audience that while fashion can be a shield or full armour, it can also be a doorway into vulnerability and connection.

VALOR showed us that behind every look is a man navigating battles we may never see.
Yet within community, shared purpose and the simple presence of people who care, there is help, hope and love.

Start the conversation. Talk to the man.

Akbar Foladi wearing House of Falcone, Photographed by Lucid Dreams Imagery