Peace in Styles – understanding clothing styles to release prejudice

In by lidasherafatmand

The fashion design exhibition of works by Azra Demishi, a young local designer, was curated by Lida Sherafatmand in conjunction with World Interfaith Harmony Week. The aim of the event was to inspire a space for personal expressions in what we wear as humans, as to not stigmatise people immediately with prejudices according to any particular outer appearances. Such prejudices block genuine human connections, and they block also people from expressing themselves in their clothes in a way which makes them feel comfortable in who they are. Azra Demishi has taken the courage and hard work to open an atelier in Struga, and this provides not just a business space, it is providing a space for personal expressions in our clothing. Besides creating very beautiful and unique designs, she is also contributing to the larger image of the community, by moving forward in her development as a designer artist. Another point which touched Lida Sherafatmand in Azra’s work environment making her decide to link the exhibition to the World Interfaith Harmony Week, was when she saw Ms Emma, the atelier assistant colleague of Azra, who helps with the clothes realization. Ms Emma is from the Muslim community wearing a hijab, while both she and Azra work in full harmony with full respect for each other’s dignity as persons beyond the ‘style’ of what they dress. This is an achievement for any human society, specially seeing the exaggerated tensions in many other areas of the world when it comes to different clothing styles and codes.   Following the introduction by Lida about the connection of this exhibition to the larger picture for the development of peace in our communities and our deepening our humanity, Azra gave a presentation about her creation process. She explained how she starts research on a theme, creates mood boards, designs, and finally the actual dress from the design. A group of high school students from Ibrahim Temo attended the event with their art teacher Mr Goran Ristoski. Mr Hristijan Tomanoski curator at the Culture Centre facilitated the whole event. Besides the students other adult visitors also attended the exhibition and seemed to find the whole event a refreshing one.