Middle Eastern designer brand Nazzal Studio (@nazzalstudio) has captured the fashion world's attention with its 'What Should Have Been Home' collection. The highlight of this collection is a dress crafted by refugee women, meticulously woven together using 10,000 coins and weighing an extraordinary 72kg.
The coins used in this dress are traditional decorative coins commonly used for headpiece ornamentation in Middle Eastern countries and cultures. While not actual currency, they represent a cultural tradition passed down through generations, carrying deep meaning within their communities. Such decorative garments are common in Middle Eastern tradition and, though they may be difficult for outsiders to understand, they embody the history and identity of a people.
This piece goes beyond showcasing mere physical weight. It encapsulates the hardship and anguish experienced by refugee women during its creation, as well as their longing for 'what should have been home'—the places they were forced to leave behind. It stands as proof that fashion can transcend aesthetics to become a powerful medium for social messaging and human storytelling.
Through this work, Nazzal Studio has materialized multiple layers of discourse—the refugee crisis, cultural identity, and women's labor—into a single piece of wearable art. It is being recognized as a significant example of how fashion can play a vital role at the intersection of art and social dialogue.
The coins used in this dress are traditional decorative coins commonly used for headpiece ornamentation in Middle Eastern countries and cultures. While not actual currency, they represent a cultural tradition passed down through generations, carrying deep meaning within their communities. Such decorative garments are common in Middle Eastern tradition and, though they may be difficult for outsiders to understand, they embody the history and identity of a people.
This piece goes beyond showcasing mere physical weight. It encapsulates the hardship and anguish experienced by refugee women during its creation, as well as their longing for 'what should have been home'—the places they were forced to leave behind. It stands as proof that fashion can transcend aesthetics to become a powerful medium for social messaging and human storytelling.
Through this work, Nazzal Studio has materialized multiple layers of discourse—the refugee crisis, cultural identity, and women's labor—into a single piece of wearable art. It is being recognized as a significant example of how fashion can play a vital role at the intersection of art and social dialogue.
FAQ
How many coins was Nazal Studio's coin dress made from?
The dress from Nazal Studio's 'What Should Have Been Home' collection was crafted from 10,000 coins weighing a total of 72kg. The dress was hand-woven by refugee women.
Are the coins used in the dress real currency?
No, the coins are not actual currency but decorative coins traditionally used in hair ornaments in Middle Eastern cultures. They represent part of cultural tradition passed down through generations, symbolizing community identity and history.
What message does Nazal Studio convey through this work?
Through this work, Nazal Studio addresses multilayered themes of refugee crisis, cultural identity, and women's labor. It particularly captures the hardships refugee women experienced during production and their longing for homelands left behind, demonstrating fashion's potential as a medium for social discourse.
