
Syrian Women at the Heart of the Revolution
These women are not just names in the memory of the revolution, but rather a foundation for building a free Syria. Their struggle is a living testimony that change begins
I was a student at the University of Kalamoon in Deir Atiyeh, Rural Damascus, studying architecture when the war broke out. I decided to pursue fashion design and pattern making at EsMod-Beirut, which is the world’s first and oldest French fashion design school. I then moved to Istanbul, where I graduated from Vakko-EsMod Istanbul in 2015. I was awarded the jury prize for design during every year of my education.
In 2017, I moved to Chicago to establish my own brand: RAKAN. My brand is a luxurious modern line dedicated to strong, confident women who desire to be unique. As a conceptual designer, my work is inspired by everything around me, particularly architecture and history. My designs incorporate both a meaning and a reason. Creating unique designs is my game and I play it with different volumes and materials.
I am extremely proud to have participated as one of the 16 participating designers at Project Runway in March 2019, after a rigorous application process amongst hundreds of others. It was a wonderful opportunity as a Syrian competing amongst other talented fashion designers. In 2020, I received “The Fashion Group International Rising Star Award.”
These women are not just names in the memory of the revolution, but rather a foundation for building a free Syria. Their struggle is a living testimony that change begins
Najeeb Halaby was a Syrian-American pioneer in aviation with an extraordinary journey. He was the first to make a nonstop jet flight across the US and led the largest American
Syrian artists like Marwan Barakat remind us of the cultural and social wealth that Syrians have to offer to the world, and inspire us to express ourselves and our talents,