COLLECTION 01: NAHLA X UNITED NATIONS REFUGEE AGENCY (UNHCR)
INTRODUCING COLLECTION 01
My name is Tahra (@tahrajade) and I am the Digital Content Creator at Nahla Swim. I’m so excited to talk to you about the vision and inspiration behind this purpose-driven brand, elaborate on our first collection, and to share a bit of my story.
Nahla was created with the goal of bringing together fashion and philanthropy. We want to create beautiful, intentional pieces that make a tangible impact on those that need it the most. That is why each collection will partner with a philanthropic organization, where a portion of profits will go directly to that partner cause. For our first collection, we decided to partner with the United Nations Refugee Agency Canada (UNHCR); the need is greater than ever and the cause is one we have a personal connection with. The UNHCR is dedicated to Saving Lives and Protecting Rights, focusing on those who have fled violence, persecution, war, and/or disaster at home. We are so proud to be partnering with such an incredible organization that aligns directly with our values of integrity, compassion, and humanity.
On a deeper level, this partnership means a great deal to myself, as a first generation Canadian. My parents are from Palestine and have experienced much of the devastation and detrimental impacts of the ongoing conflict there. My mother and father were both born and raised in war, and have seen and endured things no child should have to endure at such a young age. Both of them fled to Canada at different periods in their lives with the hopes of creating a more promising future. The experiences they have had, my extended family that still reside in Palestine have had, as well as what I have experienced myself in Palestine, is what makes me an even stronger advocate for the work of the UNHCR. While there have been around 5 million Palestinian refugees that have fled the mistreatment and conflict at home, there are millions of others throughout an overwhelming number of countries who are experiencing very similar occurrences that leave them with no other option than to begin a new life elsewhere. While I am passionate about remaining educated on my own country, I also believe it’s unbelievably important to rid ourselves of selective empathy and become aware of what is occurring in many other corners of the world so we can do our absolute best to be advocates and allies, regardless of geographic ties.
The main goals of this partnership are to raise awareness of the challenges many refugees face on a daily basis and to do our part with paying it forward. Going forward, we see ourselves continuing to partner with as many organizations that aid those in need as possible in order to raise funds for further vulnerable causes. We will continue to speak out about the global injustices that many groups face on all our online platforms to raise awareness and hopefully encourage others to donate and speak out as well. We also intend to take the Nahla team and partner content creators abroad to volunteer and gain first-hand context for the work these organizations do.
THE UNHCR AND ITS IMPACT
The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), is a global organization dedicated to “saving lives, protecting rights, ultimately building a better future for refugees, forcibly displaced communities, and stateless people.”
Since the UNHCR was founded in 1950, they have tackled various crises in multiple continents, and have provided critical assistance to refugees, asylum-seekers, returnees, internally displaced, and stateless people globally. The protection, shelter, health, education, and advocacy they implement has been a vital step in aiding people in order to strengthen local capacities and build brighter futures for individuals in need.
The reason the UNHCR’s work is so crucial is because they safeguard rights and provide aid to those who seek it in 135 countries worldwide, so their scope is vast and global in reach. They strive to ensure that everyone has the right to seek asylum and find refuge in another State, with the option to eventually return home, integrate, or resettle. Not only does the UNHCR provide emergency response and assistance in the form of clean water, sanitation, health care, shelter, and food, but they also aim to establish secure, lasting solutions within and outside of the communities they serve.
www.unhcr.ca
We chose the UNHCR because they are a well-renowned global organization with over half a century of experience within the humanitarian field. Additionally, there is no doubt that the donations they receive go directly to the causes and most vulnerable populations that they help. Their credibility and dedication to serving is unwavering.
COLLECTION BREAKDOWN:
Nahla’s Understated Collection speaks to the art of subtle yet intricate expression. A ‘less is more’ ideology is brought to life with neutral hues, minimalistic cuts, refined hardware, and an unmatched eye for the details.
Collection 01: Understated is a fifty-seven-piece collection featuring six swim designs and two bandana scarves. Each swim design comes in five beautiful shades, creating an endless variation of combinations. The palette is neutral and the shades include deep brown, taupe, nude, rose, and off-white. Each design can be previewed below:
DESIGN I
DESIGN II
DESIGN III
DESIGN IV
DESIGN V
DESIGN VI
DESIGN VII
DESIGN VIII
As stated prior, 100% of all profits from our accessories, Design VII and Design VIII, will go directly to programs within the UNHCR that support forcibly displaced refugees around the world. Our aim with these designs is to convey the UNHCR’s mission and values in an authentic and clear manner. Both scarves are printed mesh, 100% biodegradable, cruelty free, and vegan. We found incredible social influencers with aligned values that are helping to amplify the cause and support our mission within their own social audiences. A few of these models include Cassie Amato, Lexi Wood, Snejana Jens, Tara Martin, two of which can be seen wearing our UNHCR inspired scarf designs below. Prioritizing meaningful content creator relationships and carefully selecting influencers who embody and share our values will be a continued priority for all future collections.
The design behind Scarf VII embodies hope, freedom, and growth. The abstract floral pattern which can be seen below was created by refugee artist Anas Albraehe, who is a Syrian refugee currently living in Beirut, Lebanon.
Scarf VIII embodies the essence of the partnership between Nahla and The UNHCR. Both logos and slogans “Saving Lives, Protecting Rights” and “Supporting the Most Vulnerable” are visible in repeating patterns throughout the design.
REFUGEE DIARIES:
We wanted to take this time to feature some of the most powerful stories and photos of refugees around the world. We hope you take a moment to read their moving stories and gain a deeper understanding for their journies.
HOW YOU CAN HELP:
We can all make a positive impact by feeling empowered to learn more and contribute where we can. Below are a few tangible ways to ally with the cause:
1. STAY INFORMED: Follow the UNHCR on Instagram and stay up to date with their latest work and emergency states.
2. SPEAK UP: Talk about it on your own social media platforms! Share posts and stories, as well as valid petition and donation links. Make caring and rallying behind humanitarian causes a part of your social media activity.
3. CHALLENGE YOUR CITY: Take a step in the right direction and join the UN Refugee Agency's challenge to make an impact in your own community.
4. DONATE: Make a monetary donation when you can; your money always goes to those who need it most. To donate directly, click here.
5. VOLUNTEER: The UNHCR has many volunteer opportunities abroad, in your own country, or online. Click here to learn more.
6. TAKE ONLINE COURSES: If you are interested in learning more about the humanitarian field, you can take free online courses that are led by well-renowned universities. Some of these include:
- Humanitarian Response to Conflict and Disaster
- International Humanitarian Law
- Protecting Children in Humanitarian Settings
- Introduction to Humanitarian Aid
- International Humanitarian Law in Theory and Practice
- Humanitarian Communication
- Global Health and Humanitarianism
We’d like to thank the entire UNHCR team for partnering with us and for believing in Nahla's big vision. We cannot wait to continue creating beautiful pieces while making a tangible difference in the lives of the most vulnerable.
Tahra Elsharkawi
Digital Content Creator,
Nahla Swim