Printed Textiles for fashion
Project: Cape Of Protection

It has always been a topic of interest of mine to use my skills to inspire positive behaviour towards the environment and society, and my most recent project demonstrates my resolve towards it. 

Drawing upon the personal experience of growing up within a Muslim family in Venice, this project extends the protection felt when wearing the Abaya to a city that is sinking.

Hand-painted Venetian landmarks have been fractured and reconstructed within the geometric principles of traditional Islamic design, to develop a collection of statement prints.

The Abaya has come to be seen as a garment that protects women from unwanted attention. Whilst within this project the abaya continues to symbolise a ‘Cape of Protection’, it also strives to actively draw attention to the irreparable effect of global warming on the city and its heritage.

Threatened by the rising sea levels, the iconic landmarks found in Saint Mark’s Square are situated within one of the city’s lowest lying areas, making them most at risk. The beauty and intricate architecture of this square is celebrated and honoured within detailed hand-painted illustrations.

Digital collaging approaches and print craftsmanship are combined to build new landscapes across the expansive cloth surface that the abaya offers.