Diaspora Design Spaces + Places: (Re)interpreting the Sartorial Self

Diaspora Design Spaces + Places: (Re)interpreting the Sartorial Self HAWA STWODAH

MFA Assistant Professor

event catalyst comment

context

AFGHANISTAN Late1970’s/ Early 80s 1978 Communist faction seized power in a coup, overthrowing and killing President Sardar Mohammed Daoud Khan.

1979 American Ambassador Adolph Dubs is killed.

The United States cuts off assistance to Afghanistan.

The USSR invades Afghanistan on Dec. 24.

conflict = forced migration https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/asia-jan-june11-timeline-afghanistan 4.6.22

waves of

1979- 1989

6 MILLION

external

c univi re l st

s in ov va ie siot n

s w ov ith ie dr t aw

al

t a ta lib ke a ov n er t a fa lib ll a n u in .s. va + sioall i n ed u w .s. ith + dr all awie d al

AFGHANISTAN

1992-2001

100,000

external

2021

700,000

external Afghanistan: conflict and displacement 1978 to 2001

by Hiram A Ruiz Forced Migration Review https://media.nationalgeographic.org/assets/file/afghan_MIG.pdf

waves of

1979- 1989

6 MILLION

external

c univi re l st

s in ov va ie siot n

s w ov ith ie dr t aw

al

t a ta lib ke a ov n er t a fa lib ll a n u in .s. va + sioall i n ed u w .s. ith + dr all awie d al

AFGHANISTAN

1992-2001

100,000

external

2021

700,000

external Afghanistan: conflict and displacement 1978 to 2001

by Hiram A Ruiz Forced Migration Review https://media.nationalgeographic.org/assets/file/afghan_MIG.pdf

/refugee/ /immigrant/ /displaced/

ommen

“...dont worry, she’s very modern”

omment

“...dont worry, she’s very modern”

context

prohibited

? am I ?

modern MODERN modern

ideas apparel actions

where were my ideas formed

education EXPERIENCES

environment

veil

LAYERS

what was i wearing

contemporary

HONEST

FORTHRIGHT inquisitive how was i acting

category category category

diaspora

global north

designers diaspora

Afghanistan + 1,000,000 + 100,000 + 10,000 + 1,000

https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/afghan-immigrants-united-states https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afghan_diaspora

Anjilla Seddeqi

Avizeh Marina Khan

https://news.trust.org/item/20210921123431-55efu/

Zarif Design Zolaykha Sherzad

https://www.zarifdesign.com/kabul https://www.vogue.it/en/vogue-talents/news/2017/06/23/zolaykha-sherzad-zarif-design-afghanistan/

australia international law

Anjilla Seddeqi Zarif Design Zolaykha Sherzad

Avizeh Marina Khan*

switzerland

architecture

united kingdom psychology

* not born in afghanistan

Mohammad Aziz

Rumi Rose Samira Atash

Mohammad Aziz

united states

architecture + fashion design

Rumi Rose Samira Atash

united states

marketing + fashion design

Mohammad Aziz

Question for Panelist Diaspora Design Spaces + Places: (Re)interpreting the Sartorial Self.

Tell me a little bit about yourself. Describe yourself.

When did you realize you wanted to go into design?and how did you go about following that path?

Rumi Rose Samira Atash

Describe your design aesthetic.

What has your career path been like?

Have there been any pivotal points in your design journey?

How do you incorporate your culture and heritage into your designs?

What has been the most challenging aspect in your life or path, in relations to being an immigrant?

authentic

adaptive

speculative

Rumi Rose Samira Atash

Describe your design aesthetic. I love colors, prints, embroideries

and vintage. I tend to mix a bit of East and West and love finding stories behind what I wear.

I love finding treasures at consignment, vintage and thrift shops. It's my pastime!

Have there been any pivotal points in your design journey? I would have to say that after September 11th, 2001, I saw how the

world viewed Afghans and Muslims, and I wanted to be a voice to show the world the "Beauty of the East" (which was the name of a series I did then and the name of my blog on www.samiraatash.com). I still work actively to try and open people's minds, educate and change stereotypes in the work I do.

What has been the most challenging aspect in your life or path, in relations to being an immigrant?

Rumi Rose Samira Atash

Living in the West as a woman that has strong ties to her ancestral culture and religion isn’t always easy. I'm first generation immigrant which means my generation had it tough at home.

My parents were strict! My sisters and I couldn't do anything because of the pressures of what the "community would think". Young Afghan girls these days in America don't realize how much more easy they have it. I also never felt I completely fit into society here, but I appreciate the opportunities I have been given here such as education and business.

Also, the myth is that women in the West are not oppressed, but we can be in other ways such as the pressures to look young, look physically fit, all while juggling work, relationship and being a mother. As I get older, I am starting to realize many myths about what feminism should be. I find women in places in the world like Afghanistan who still have courage and hope are inspiring to me.

I don’t believe there is anywhere on Earth that is easy for an immigrant, but some have it harder than others. I appreciate all that God has given to me. Having appreciation for the good and bad is what matters.

Mohammad Aziz

tradition

modern

future

Thank you HAWA STWODAH

MFA Assistant Professor