
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
The 100-year-old Damascene Syrian/Armenian, Yervant Stepanian, was one of the city’s many special gems. Born at the start of the French Mandate in Syria & Lebanon, he moved from Beirut and settled in Damascus in 1937 at the age of 16 for better economic opportunities. He introduced the Jacquard card cutting technique to Damascus. The Jacquard machine greatly simplified the process of manufacturing patterned textiles (mainly silk), which helped expand Damascus’ production of its iconic brocades.
Yervant was one of the significant figures in the art of silk-making and brocade in the book “La Soie et L’orient” (Silk & the Orient) by Florence Ollivry & photographer Rima Maroun.
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,