BOND

Using fashion design as a medium for positive change: Transforming the stories of Syrian Refugees and Turkish Orphan Children into wearable forms in collaboration with women and artisans

In April 2017, we organized a 2-day story completing atelier with Syrian refugees along with Turkish orphan children as a part of Innocampus Accelerator Program, supported by UN's International Office of Migration.

During the ateliers, kids from two sides of the border explored a story that featured the metaphor of a flying carpet, which enabled them to transition between different layers of reality. The carpet reflected the transnational state of existence that defines life not only for them, but also for many of us. Detached from the floor, carpets are a state of in-between, creating their own ground and horizon. 

With the carpet, Sarah from Syria and Ali from Turkey both dreamed to fly across the universe instead of staying in the borders of the sphere. While Sarah was dreaming about Saturn, Ali chose to travel to the moon.

Taking these drawings, we created colorful, %100 hand knitted and embroidered cardigans and capes in collaboration with women from the villages of Edirne. Because when women work together, It’s a bond unlike any other!

Each cardigan also has an unfunctional bond which shows that visible bonds mean nothing while invisible bonds mean everything.

Through each purchase, 10% of the profit is going back to Munir Onat Child and Youth Center and Syrian Refugee Center, Gaziantep.