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GHITTA LASKROUIF

Moroccan fashion designer and changemaker .

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Currently, the economy follows a linear way of production and consumption with little regard for the environmental consequences it imposes!

whenever i talk about circular fashion process ( slow fashion,Eco friendly and especially recycle,up-cycle,mending ...) people think only about some boring craft projects ! but the circular game is more elevated than that!

 circular fashion is based on three principles:
  • Design out waste and pollution
  • Keep products and materials in use
  • Regenerate natural systems
The list is long of brands and projects inspiring me in the sector ! but here few projects 
around the world that are tackling waste in exciting and innovative ways to close the loop : 


IONCELL


The Ioncell process utilizes a solvent called ionic liquid to dissolve cellulose. In the dissolved state, cellulose can be transformed into strong fibers using the dry-jet wet spinning technology. The only chemicals applied are the non-toxic ionic liquid and water. They are both re-circulated in the process in a closed loop.

GRAVIKY 
 

Have designed the ultimate upcycling material, ink created using carbon air pollution.AIR-INK the first ink made entirely out of air pollution. After capturing air-pollution through pilot trials of KAALINK™ and other pollution source.

BETHANY WILLIAMS

Is tackling social change through fashion. The London-based designer believes social and environmental issues go hand in hand – focusing her collections on social causes such as the UK’s hidden hunger problem as well as women’s rehabilitation. Using one hundred percent sustainable materials – Bethany takes food waste and recycled cardboard, turning them into hand woven vibrant clothing whilst advocating for sustainable fashion production.

FREITAG


Freitag were definitely ahead of the curb when it comes to using recycled materials to create fashion using truck tarpaulins, bicycle tubes and seat belts to create a sturdy, waterproof bag to protect their creative work.
Freitag has not only committed to the circular, closed-loop economy but is also organized in circles: in 2016, abandoned the classical hierarchical structure and replaced it with Holacracy, a form of organization based on self-management.now freitag brothers develop 100% Biodegradable Fabrics.

TAKASHI SCHMIDT

Schmidt takashi undertake a laborious process of collecting discarded and used clothing in their custom made containers. Each collected item is carefully washed and ironed, then assigned an identification number, identifying the former owner, the color, material and style is catalogued, and archival photographs taken. All the information from the archiving and photographing of each donated item is then saved in a small RFID transponder, basically a simple digital number chip, which can be read with an RFID reader; simple technology available on most smart phones as an application download. RFID tags are quite robust, and can easily withstand washing, so each uniquely numbered item has the relevant RFID tag sewn into it, which can be access at anytime to learn its history, as well as to track its new life.

ZWD 

The mission of Zero waste daniel is to tackle and change industry norms by reimagining design and creation without waste using Reroll technique creating flat textile goods made from cutting room scraps.

EVRNU

 Takes old clothing and creates completely new yarn for new clothing. Its process uses solvent to turn cottons and other fabrics into pulp which it then extrudes 
through a fine filter.
same goes for  the brand OSOM
KIRIKO

Is a lifestyle brand forged from the spirit of Mottainai (勿体無い); a Japanese value that embraces one to waste nothing and recycle everything.The boutique is famous for its “Boro” pieces, one-of-a-kind garments made from damaged vintage wear that is then patched by hand with decades-old fabric.
NAT-2

presents a vegan luxury sneakers made from real coffee a new fiber coming out of Taiwan that uses recycled coffee grinds. Big names like North Face, Puma and Timberland are already using it!


BIO-LEATHER 

Vegan Alternative from BioCouture ,the atelier has explored the use of living cultures of microorganisms (yeast and bacteria) to grow biomaterials like cellulose into sustainable, compostable clothing.

 INSECTA 

Based in the southern city of Porto,Alegre makes its vegan-friendly sapatos from a blend of vintage clothing, post-consumer recycled plastic bottles, and reclaimed rubber. Everything is produced locally in small batches.

REPREVE 


REPRIVE turns the unwanted plastic into a fibre, which can then be taken to a fabric mill and woven into fabric.

MYCOWORKS

have created a new kind of leather grown rapidly from mycelium and agricultural byproducts in a carbon-negative process. the custom-engineered material is sustainable, versatile, and animal–free. performs like leather.

AGRALOOP

creates low cost, and highly scalable bio-fibers made entirely from food-crop waste.
The Company has developed a closed loop processing system called The Agraloop Bio-RefineryTM, capable of converting the residual biomass remaining after the harvest of food crops such as oil seed grains like flax/hemp, and tropical leaf fibers from fruits such as banana and pineapple, etc, into valuable and versatile bio-fibers that are applied to supplement cotton, used in a wide range of applications.


NEFFA

The brand creates sustainable fabric from mycelium, the roots of mushrooms, called MYCOTEX .


KLOTERS

Has created a T-shirt that cleans the air through a specially designed insert.

CELIA PYM

Celia Pym Is a textile artist who employs mending to communicate,Through carefully darning, knitting and embroidering people’s cloth, Celia Pym creates intimate works like Where Holes Happens that speak to the human experience and interrogates our feelings towards vulnerability, care and repair.

BYSSUS by Chiara Vigo




Silk is usually made from the cocoons spun by silkworms - but there is another, much rarer, cloth known as sea silk or byssus, which comes from a clam. this Sea silk was produced in the Mediterranean region from the large marine bivalve mollusc Pinna nobilis until early in the 20th century.

Chiara Vigo is thought to be the only person left who can harvest it, spin it and make it shine like gold.
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Coming back home from Turkey was like a slap in the face, leaving me with a culture shock & nostalgia for the culture, the food and the vibrancy of the country.

I’m a naturally curious being,I feel amazed and dazed to visit any place in the world,even if it’s not always feasible with a Moroccan passport and lot of things can get in the way but it’s purely amazing to know new types of people, different ways of living...

Many countries are in my wish list but turkey wasn’t there! I always felt that in the current time, turkey is culturally more European orientated and i’m more attracted to discover other influences! Luckily I've got to travel with my sister,and discover that it's totally different from what I've imagined!! 
we had to decide a destination that is affordable without a hustle of visa!! And Turkey was the easiest choice for a short vacation!




From Cappadocia to Istanbul

Cappadocia is one of the most breathtaking landscapes I've ever seen with it’s naturally formed fairy chimneys and mystic valleys,underground cities …Meanwhile,Istanbul is like a massive open-air museum:The world-famous Blue Mosque, along with Topkapi Palace and church-turned-mosque-turned-museum Hagia Sophia,the Grand Bazaar, the fascinating Basilica Cistern,the wander down in Avenues in the heart of the city, and river cruise down the Bosphorus strait separating Europe and Asia!! 


This post does not describe the real daily life maybe,however I'm writing down some facts from my own experience as tourist in turkey! 

Transport


I Think that one of the best things about Turkey for a traveler is its list of transport options,
from buses and bikes to trains, rental cars and more luxurious seaplanes,it was honestly the easiest transport I've tried in Europe!


We took a flight Casablanca /Istanbul than a domestic one from Istanbul to Nevşehir because is easy to navigate by plane in turkey,and it’s just plain faster. A flight from Istanbul to our destination took 01h10 ,compared to a bus ride or train that can take up to 8 hours! 


My first impression at the airport was that Turkish people are cold !!! and don’t make any effort to help! moreover I was shocked about the number of Moroccan “harraga” (illegal immigrant ) laying in the airport !! most of them were young very young and not well educated!! Turkish custom took many passports from the passengers at the arrival without explaining what's going on! after  asking the few passengers  allowed to pass along with me,I learned that many of them attempt to cross to Europe, those failing or not venturing to enter Europe prefer to stay in airport  as a second-best option rather than returning home so Turkish custom check many times carefully the passports.


while waiting for the next flight,i wasn’t sure that it was a good idea to relax here!! 
Once we've been on board, I was reassured of the atmosphere's change !!! people were more kind ! We arrived to Nevşehir than we took a bus to Goreme  that surprisingly serves free coffee/tea and chocolate !! it was really refreshing and i was glad to be far from the urban life's pressure !

Food


A big part of traveling and experiencing a new culture is exploring the local cuisine!! It is said that travelers in Turkey come for the history but stay for the food! As i’m still careful with my health,i didn’t get to eat all the most appreciated Turkish food but I can tell that there’s something for every taste, some dishes even have a Moroccan taste but with less strong flavors! The pastries are much more sweet !! I felt dizzy just tasting it !!! but i miss the traditional cappadocian bread, salads,lentil soups,pomegranate juice most !!





Handcrafts



Despite the onslaught of modern machinery, skilled artisans still make a roaring trade in Turkey, and some of this can be credited to tourism and people’s desire for authentic souvenirs.Turkish handicrafts has formed a rich mosaic by bringing together its genuine values with the cultural heritage of the different civilizations which were coming from the thousand years of history of the Anatolia from Ceramics,tiles, carpets,kilims, marbling, calligraphy,gilding, miniature work, wood carving ,crochet,silk,pottery,porcelain …
Even in vacation i'm kind of working !!! I can’t stop myself looking for new ideas !! I was able to visit some artisans in Avanos and Istanbul to know more about the marvelous crafts there!!




History


Cappadocia has many areas with unique geological, historic, and cultural features.
actually I majored in fine arts, and I received a bunch of informations at art history courses about prehistory yet discovering the area  evoked many souvenirs  of all the theoretical things I've forgot !

The location was central between rival empires for many centuries, such as the Hurri-Mitanni,Hittite Empire, Middle Assyrian Empire, Neo Assyrian Empire, Persian Achaemenid
Empire and the Greek Seleucid Empire etc, leading the natives to tunnel into the rock to escape the political turmoil.
During the Roman era, the area became home to Christians retreating from Rome.
Christianity prevailed as the primary religion in the region, which is evident from many
rock churches that can still be seen today.







URBAN CULTURE



Traditions and practices change with regions and people, and the best way to fit in is, as always,I observe the way people around behave and try to adjust accordingly.

generally talking Turkish people are warm, have a sense of  hospitality and willingness to help, especially in Cappadocia where all shops and restaurants will offer a free tea and guide you around  !



Back to Istanbul after  the fascinating time stop in Cappadocia, was like going back to reality !! it wasn’t an  exciting place for me for the first 2 days, too much tourists, especially in Taksim !! most people are all over buying clothes or getting plastic surgeries! 

However  the more i spent time there the more i appreciated the city ! i think it's a unique blend  of  many mixed cultures! Social interaction in the street isn't easy as there is a barrier of language but most are nice when you get to talk in other places,just one thing  Istanbul man are extreme flirting, i don't want to make a stereotype but it was a fact during my stay in the city! especially when they knew we are Moroccan because most mistook us for Turkish or Iranian at first ! 



Stray Dogs and cats population was unbelievable too ! dogs everywhere! however I liked how people care about them! many are fed by families and business owners daily! Tin bowls for food and water can even be seen along the highways.



I liked the parks and clean public spaces !! TURKISH BATHS ! Being clean is a big part of Turkish culture also it is part of the religion.,there are many phrases pointing out how to be clean and why it is important unlike morocco turkey is more clean!!


Religion

Turkey population is believed to be 99.8% Muslim. Sunnis make up around 80% of this and Shias around 20%. There are very small Christian and Jewish populations though these were bigger before the turn of the century. 

I felt  that Islam in turkey is kind of more poetic and spiritual in comparison to morocco,  there is mosques in every corner!! women  wear hijab with more freedom ! it gave me the kind of  a time leap to the 90's in morocco where people wear any style of clothes without prejudices!



Language

It was easy to communicate in Cappadocia most people speaks French or English however it was a little  complicated to communicate with locals in Istanbul ! but the great thing i discovered it's easy for me  to learn  some basics phrases, as there is a lot of words and structure similarities with Arabic/Japanese/Chinese that i'm somehow familiar with.
yet my favorite part is the usage of onomatopoeia,hand gesture and face expression exactly just like Moroccans !!
In the end  the first week i was able to understand some conversations however  I had to use google to answer .
I had that weird  feeling of just meeting  some Berber elders of my family speaking Amazigh where I can figure out the big picture but i can't understand everything well!!


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I am pleased to manage the fresh project #DESIGNLAB at ( IUHM) Association initiative urbaine .




Designlab is a space dedicated to help and empower women of Hay Mohammadi by developing artisanal products,it is also a platform for collaboration between the collectif and artists or designers.

Currently the  #Designlab is hosting a collectif  of 25 women artisans starting their own cooperative “Papillons Rebelles” a brand of handicraft products.

The collectif needs your support to create a collection from recycled & upcycled textile.
by donating your clothes you contribute to the empowerment of the collectif and ultimately reducing waste.

If you're wondering what to donate,these items are always on our wish list :


Clothes
Bags
Totebags
Beads
Broken jewellery
Hats
Blankets
Gloves
Belts
Textile

Contact :

Association Initiative Urbaine

9, rue Ibn El Baitar

Derb Saâd H.M.
Hay Mohammadi

Ghitta laskrouif : ghitta.studio@gmail.com
Emeline mainy e.mainy@iuhm.org
Tél. : +212.5.22.60.59.52

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Dutch version of the exhibition presented in 2016 at the Brighton Museum & Art Gallery (UK), Fashion Cities Africa invites itself for a whole year between the red brick walls of the Tropenmuseum in Amsterdam, until January 6, 2019. Located on the top floor of the museum, the exhibition space is divided in two by a central podium, plunging the public into the atmosphere of fashion shows where you can explore fashion and style in four cities at the compass points of the African continent – Casablanca in Morocco, Lagos in Nigeria, Nairobi in Kenya and Johannesburg in South Africa.

2manysiblings (Velma Rossa and Papa Petit) photographed by Sarah Waiswa

© Judith Ricketts


Ghitta Laskrouif, Fashion Cities Africa images ,
©Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove

« Fashion Cities Africa » Tropenmuseum Amsterdam
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The art of embroidery has existed throughout time Despite its centuries-old origins, this timeless craft has continually been re-energized by visionary artists who push the boundaries of its meaning and limits,but in morocco we still have this art limited to artisans  and was happy to discover a new Gen  from lamsa !

Today i would like to introduce a refreshing work of Sara!
Sara RIDAOUI is a Moroccan girl born in Casablanca, and raised in a small village around Oued Oum Rabii,passionate by art in general and by embroidery in particular.

After completing her  graduate studies at the Faculty of Science and Technology of Settat,she decided to take a break and think about her work career  but She had always something that was chosen for art and that's what drove her to enter the world of craft. so She learned different techniques in a self-taught way. After several attempts and achievements mixing techniques traditional and contemporary, Sara managed to find a own style.
On February 5, 2018 she created her first  collection of works where she does a memory project using Old photos of the African continent entitled "Since 1870". She seeks to tell stories while marrying elders archival photos in vibrant  and colorful backgrounds.

Sara exhibited the first five works in her collection "Since 1870 "at the Lamsa event in
collaboration with his sister Hafsa RIDAOUI .














Contact Sara:
sararidaouii@gmail.com
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about me

about me
salam, I'm a 34 years old moroccan eco fashion designer and changemaker,passionate about craft,culture and travel ! join me as i share about my work, places ,people and things I find inspiring !

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