SORAYA CREATIONS MODE

Soraya Creations is an exclusive brand created by Homayra Kardan in Geneva Switzerland. Homayra designs the models herself, inspired by traditional Afghan clothing. For the production, she works with a traditional embroidery workshop in a small town in northern India. Traditionally, this art of embroidery was crafted on wool or cotton fabrics, but to promote this art and protect the craftsmen, aari embroidery is now also done on luxury fabrics such as velvet, pure silk, or pure cashmere. These exceptional garments are made especially for Soraya Creations, to meet the needs of a clientele that appreciates the art but does not compromise on the quality of the fabric and wishes to value the work of the craftsmen.

Rohina Samim and Homayra Samim Kardan are sisters. With their family, they fled Afghanistan in 1979, a few weeks after the Soviet invasion. Today, they both live in Switzerland but they have never forgotten their country.

Rohina returned to live in Afghanistan for 13 years, from 2005 to 2018. There she witnessed daily the non-respect of women's rights, she saw stonings, noted the countless incarcerations of women for "honor crimes ",she put her own life in danger to help women and expose corruption. Upon her return to Switzerland, Rohina founded the association Hope For Afghan Women to help women in danger and more generally families who have been experiencing hunger and suffering since the return of the Taliban to power in August 2021. The two sisters bring their combined efforts of supporting Afghan women and fashion to Vancouver Fashion Week.

SORAYA CREATIONS MODE

A REVIEW

Soraya Creations Mode showed its collection on April 8th at Vancouver Fashion Week. VFW has always been a platform to showcase fashions diversity. In this case, it is ethnic diversity, Soraya Creations Mode comes from Switzerland it is inspired by the designer's homeland of Afghanistan. The collection of twelve looks uses traditional embroidery on luxurious fabrics.

The Soraya Creations Mode collection is a perfect example of how ethnic clothing can be added to any women's wardrobe. The collection consists of twelve looks, each comprised of a jacket, jewelry, and a handbag. The streamlined jackets are chic and elegant. The designer offers a limited color range of black, taupe, and red backgrounds; they are embroidered with a spectrum of colors, including bright reds, turquoise, and metallics. While several of these jackets could be day wear, the majority are glamourous evening wear suitable to be matched to wardrobe staples.

Each look is paired with the designers sourced jewelry. These necklaces are unique made from beads, pearls, stones, semi-precious gems and minerals. The collection also includes the designers handbags that are colorful with bold prints that resemble middle eastern carpets.

Photos are courtesy of Vancouver Fashion Week 

Photographer Arun Nevader

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SORAYA CREATIONS MODE

IN CONCLUSION

I met the team behind Soryana Creations Mode at Vancouver Fashion Week. This label has something many other fashion companies don't have, a moral purpose. Sisters Homayra Samim Kardan,(designer) and Rohina Samim ( creator of Hope For Afghan Women) use the fashion label as a source of fundraising for the charity. On visiting the brand's website ( Soryana Creations Mode) I discovered the brand gives fifty percent of its profits to its charity. 

Fashion can and has been a force for change. Fashion gala's, fashion events, and fashion brands have often been the supporters of charities. In this case, the brand Soryana Creations Mode not only shares its profits with its charity but also employs women in many countries to raise themselves out of poverty. Purchasing this beautiful clothing and accessories is a win, win, win. The first win is the clothing itself, second is the support of the charity and the third the support of women's lives. This label not only has a fashion vision but also has a social vision. 

 

L. to R. Randi Winter,  Homayra Samim Kardan,(designer), Myself, designer's sister Fatma Adelat ,Rohina Samim ( creator of Hope For Afghan Women)

CIAO FOR NOW J.ANDREW