My First Fashion Collection

After making it to Greece as a refugee from Afghanistan I am finally embarking on my first fashion collection - which is my lifelong dream !

Until July of this year I was living in a squat in Athens, sharing a small room with my whole family. This made it impossible to start sewing the collection that I was imagining in my head day and night. I could still sketch my designs however, and picture every detail, from draping to embroidery to the shoot and especially a catwalk show.

I'm so grateful that in July my family could move into an apartment and I now have a room of my own with my sewing machine set up. So far I've been able to make one sample look from the 11 I've sketched out. I have bought the fabric to make one more look, but unfortunately my job as a tailor doesn't earn me enough to support my family and create a collection at the same time.

My friends have encouraged me to reach out and ask for support in my creative endeavour, which I hope will also become my future career. Any funds I raise will pay for fabrics, embroidery threads, photo shoot assistance, production for a small catwalk show - and the extra electricity needed to run my sewing machine (electricity is surprisingly expensive in Greece).

I worked as a haute couture tailor to wealthy women for many years in Iran as an Afghan refugee. It was always my goal to develop my own aesthetic and become a designer in my own right. One day I plan to have my own brand for the modern global woman.

I've seen many terrible things in Afghanistan and Iran, as well as travelling through Turkey and the Greek refugee camps before arriving where I am today. I now want to forget everything that's behind me and am deeply committed to building my own future - hopefully through my creativity and by following my dream.

Any help you feel able to give will mean so much to me.

I can't thank you enough for reading.

Shafi xxx

THE FUNDING WILL PROVIDE:

Fabric €350

Needles & Thread €50

Special embroidery €100

Electricity for sewing machine & ironing €300

Lighting €200

Hair & Make-up €100

Accessories (shoes, belts, leggings, 1 scarf & jewellery for 5 models) €350

Production €50

Photographer €200

THE COLLECTION IS CALLED FLAME:

Feminine in celebration of female aesthetics

Loving to all peoples from all places

Artistic in its approach to design

Modern for our ever changing world

Elegant because it shows self respect

🔥