Creating hope away from home: World Refugee Day 2023

 It’s World Refugee Day!

Today and every day, we recognize the contributions refugees make and the benefits they bring to their host communities.

 This year’s theme, ‘hope away from home,’ means:

 …a chance to thrive in a new country.

 …a place to call home in a new city.

 …a sense of belonging in a new community.

For many refugees, finding a way to restore dignity and independence is one of the most powerful ways they can find hope away from home. In particular,  the opportunity to work, earn a living and become self-reliant is one of the most effective ways people can rebuild their lives while living in forced displacement.

With the simple act of buying refugee-made products, you're supporting our collaborations with 35 social enterprises in 23 countries around the world that together are creating opportunities for 3,700+ artisans to use their skills and heritage to earn an income. 

Read below to learn more about what we’re up to on World Refugee Day this year! 

New collaboration with UNIQLO

We are thrilled to announce that once again UNIQLO is celebrating World Refugee Day with us by bringing two new refugee-made products from MADE51 to you! 

This exclusive #UNIQLOxUNHCR #WithRefugees keychain and bracelet are now available through select UNIQLO stores (and online) in Japan and the United States! We're also taking pre-orders for these items via our online shop for customers outside Japan and the US.  

Artisans in South Sudan working on the UNHCRxUNIQLO beaded products. Photo: UNHCR / N. Abdulhak 

• Click here to shop online in Japan
• Click here to shop online in the USA
• Click here to pre-order if you’re in the rest of the world

The keychain and bracelet are beaded by forcibly displaced women in Egypt, Kenya and South Sudan. In collaboration with Bawa Hope, Roots and Yadawee, three social enterprise partners, we worked with 150 refugee women who completed thousands of pieces of beading for this order, using their talents to support their families and contribute to the communities hosting them.

The designs bring together the colors of UNIQLO and UNHCR (@refugees), representing the  long-standing partnership between these organizations.

MADE51 pop-up stores will also appear at UNIQLO stores in Italy and the UK to mark Refugee Week 2023! Click here for more information.

MADE51 team members and founder of Yadawee, MADE51 social enterprise partner, visit  the MADE51 pop-up at the UNIQLO flagship store in London on World Refugee Day 2023. 

First collaboration with Peacefull 

We’re proud to announce our collaboration with Salama Mohamed and her brand Peacefull. Salama is an Emirati entrepreneur and UNHCR High Profile Supporter. Salama has demonstrated her commitment to refugees by regularly using her voice to raise funds and advocate for forcibly displaced people. 

Salama visiting RefuSHE artisans in Nairobi, Kenya during production of the T-shirt towel. Photo: Peacefull 

Salama is the founder and CEO of Peacefull, a skincare and wellness company. Peacefull is collaborating with MADE51 to create limited edition t-shirt towels crafted by female refugees in Kenya. The towels are hand tie-dyed by Congolese, Somali and Sudanese women working with our partner RefuSHE in Nairobi. You can shop these exclusively via Peacefull now.

Soon, you can also embark on the journey of this collaboration alongside Salama, in a documentary portraying her travels to Kenya to meet with the artisans. The documentary shows the creation of the designs from start to finish, shedding a light on the resiliency of displaced women who are reclaiming their dignity in a new country through the art of traditional craftsmanship. This film is available on Salama Mohamed Official YouTube Channel now. 

It’s been a beautiful process collaborating with Peacefull and we’re already looking forward to our next project together! 

MADE51 roundtable for senior leaders in fashion at the UK House of Lords 

Today, 20 June 2023, Rt Hon Baroness Young of Hornsey hosted a roundtable discussion for senior leaders in the fashion industry in the UK House of Lords. The event explored the current state of the world for refugees and how the fashion industry can engage to create transformative impact using sustainable  business practices. 

Distinguished attendees had the opportunity to hear from UNHCR representatives, prominent industry leaders, and refugees themselves. We were proud to have the discussion opened with remarks from: 

• Vicky Tennant, UNHCR Representative in the UK
• Dennis Okwera, model and activist
• Christophe Bocquet, Director of Responsible Sourcing, Chloé
• Hisham el Gazzar, founder of Yadawee (MADE51 partner in Egypt) 
• Nyanachiek Padiet, artisan in South Sudan working with Roots (MADE51 partner in South Sudan). 

The event culminated in the launch of our ambitious plan, a MADE51 Pledge, that brings industry leaders together to create a collective pledge to support refugees. Stay tuned this week to learn more about the pledge!