Arcoiris Timor-Leste

[English]
Next on the list of our 2025 Honorary Patrons is Rui Madeira de Carvalho — a visionary Timorese designer and a quiet force for dignity, identity, and change.

Rui studied Arts in Bandung, Indonesia, and taught himself how to sew. After returning to Timor-Leste, he began creating accessories and garments using tais, our country’s iconic handwoven fabric. What began as a creative side project turned into Rui Collection in 2013 — a fashion label that reimagined tais into stunning couture, footwear, and accessories, rooted in heritage and driven by innovation.

Before launching his fashion career, Rui worked with the ISEAN-Hivos program, supporting q***r communities in Timor-Leste through access to sexual health services and rights-based education. His work helped create safer, more informed spaces for LGBTIQ+ people — long before Pride was visible in our streets.

Until his passing, Rui continued to weave impact into every thread. He sourced tais from rural women’s weaving groups, supporting more than 30 women across the country and offering training to ensure quality and authenticity. Though he faced early resistance for transforming tais beyond its traditional uses, his resilience and artistry changed minds — and today, 80% of his clientele are Timorese.

As an openly q***r man, Rui stood at the powerful intersection of tradition and transformation. His story is one of bold expression, quiet resistance, and unapologetic pride. He showed us that q***rness and culture are not opposites — they are threads in the same fabric.

This year, under the theme of Resilience, we honour Rui for his unwavering commitment to community, creativity, and living truthfully in the face of silence.

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[Tetum]
Tuir mai iha lista hosi ami nia Padroeiru sira 2025 nian maka Rui Madeira de Carvalho — dezeñadór timoroan vizionáriu ida no forsa ida ba dignidade, identidade, no mudansa.

Rui estuda Arte iha Bandung, Indonézia, no hanorin nia-an oinsá atu suku roupa. Hafoin fila mai Timor-Leste, nia hahú kria asesóriu no vestuáriu sira uza tais. Saida maka hahú hanesan projetu sekundáriu kriativu ida nakfilak ba Kolesaun Rui iha 2013 — marka fashion nian ne'ebé imajina tais ba iha moda, sapatu no asesóriu sira ne'ebé furak, ho abut iha eransa no motiva hosi inovasaun.

Molok lansa nia kareira moda nian, Rui servisu hamutuk ho programa ISEAN-Hivos, suporta komunidade q***r sira iha Timor-Leste liuhosi asesu ba servisu saúde seksuál no edukasaun bazeia ba direitu. Nia serbisu ajuda kria espasu sira ne'ebé seguru liu, no informadu liu ba ema LGBTIQ+ sira — antes Pride sai vizivel iha ita nia dalan sira.

To'o nia mate, Rui kontinua inkorpora impaktu iha nia servisu hotu-hotu. Nia hetan tais hosi grupu feto rurál sira ne'ebé soru, hodi apoia feto liu 30 iha nasaun tomak no oferese formasaun hodi garante kualidade no autentisidade. Maski nia hasoru rezisténsia iha inísiu tanba transforma tais liu fali nia uzu tradisionál sira, nia reziliénsia no arte muda ema nia hanoin — no ohin loron, 80% hosi nia kliente maka Timor-oan.

Nu'udar ema ida ne'ebé nakloke, Rui hamriik iha intersesaun entre tradisaun no transformasaun. Ninia istória maka ida ho espresaun, rezisténsia, no orgullu. Nia hatudu mai ita katak q***rness no kultura la'ós opostu — sira bele koezisti.

Tinan ida-ne'e, ho tema Reziliénsia, ami fó onra ba Maun Rui tanba nia kompromisu metin ba komunidade, kriatividade, no moris ho lia-loos iha silénsiu nia oin.