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For style label founder and former refugee Mohamed Malim, the discarded jackets are symbols of perseverance
Mohamed Malim, a former Somali refugee who went to the US when he was three, needs his style label to begin conversations.
His Minnesota-based startup Epimonia takes lifejackets from the Greek island of Lesbos that had been worn by refugees after they crossed the Mediterranean and transforms them into bracelets, beanie hats, jackets and different gadgets of clothes. The label’s seamsters are refugees too.
“Individuals see you carrying orange, ask about it, after which you possibly can discuss concerning the firm and about refugees,” says Malim (important image).
A snapshot on the finish of 2020 revealed 82.4 million folks worldwide who had been forcibly displaced on account of persecution, battle, violence or human rights violations, in response to the United Nations Refugee Company. Extra not too long ago, greater than 3 million persons are estimated to have fled Ukraine since February.
Epimonia (the phrase means ‘perseverance’ in Greek) is all about telling a extra real looking, balanced story about refugees, in addition to supporting them virtually.
“I selected that phrase as a result of refugees undergo many challenges, and persevere all through the entire journey,” Malim says. He notes that for a lot of refugees, the life vests are the very last thing they put on.
It was whereas learning advertising and marketing at college in 2018 that Malim launched Epimonia. He was annoyed on the anti-refugee rhetoric he was listening to from politicians like former president Donald Trump, in addition to from elements of the media and the general public. “My purpose was to fight that, by sharing refugee success tales,” he notes merely.
Malim started by asking refugees to share a bit about themselves and printed profiles about them, together with portraits, on-line. Realising that he might make an affect via style, he collaborated together with his uncle, Dutch-Somali dressmaker Omar Munie, to create his first designs. With its preliminary signature accent, the Embracelet, Epimonia was born.
“It’s a really small crew,” says Malim. “I’ve about 4 staff and 6 refugee seamstresses working proper now.”
My purpose was to fight [anti-refugee rhetoric], by sharing refugee success tales
The label has already achieved lots regardless of its measurement. Over $45,000 (£33,000) has been donated in the direction of prices like school scholarships and citizen utility charges for refugees. Epimonia has partnered with refugee organisations, sports activities groups and artists, amongst others, and has to date recycled greater than 500 lifejackets, donated by Refugee 4 Refugees, a Greek NGO.
“We offer symbolic help, too,” Malim explains.“As a result of while you put on an Epimonia garment, you’re carrying one thing very highly effective. It’s solidarity – you’re standing with refugees all over the world.”
Mukhtar Dahir left Somalia for Canada when he was only one, and has since moved to the US. Dahir met Malim in 2019 and was impressed by what he was doing. “I used to be sort of shocked,” Dahir says. “I had by no means met somebody who was getting lifejackets and turning them into attire. I discovered it very intriguing and attention-grabbing.”
Each have skilled prejudice for being former refugees. In Toronto, Dahir – now Epimonia’s operations and logistics supervisor – was conscious of stereotypes: that refugees rely
on authorities handouts; that they’re lazy and a burden on the system. “Whenever you’re in a minority, you discover issues folks say, like: ‘Oh, you discuss eloquently for an individual who’s moved right here’,” he says. “These issues can get to you, they are often the straw that breaks the camel’s again.”
Epimonia tells a unique story – they usually’re simply getting began. The pair have huge plans for the yr forward, together with a undertaking to assist Afghan refugees, which entails Minnesota state authorities. Collaborations with refugee designers and fashions are additionally within the pipeline.
We need to encourage folks to be extra empathetic, and assist as many refugees as we are able to
Malim additionally needs to begin creating attire from tents which were left in Greece. “It’s one other attention-grabbing method to increase consciousness – utilizing the tent strap to make bracelets and beanies,” he says.
“We need to continue to grow and make our affect giant,” Malim provides. “We need to encourage folks to be extra empathetic, and assist as many refugees as we are able to.”
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£
33,000donated to refugees to date
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500
+lifejackets which were was clothes and bracelets
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12
refugees employed by the enterprise to date
Predominant picture: Mohamed Malim. Credit score: Paul Akama
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