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Syrian 'Tiger Girls' will weave coats of relief to keep warm during winter

Dubai - The #LoveCoats project aims is to empower adolescent girls through fashion and designing and was initiated to commemorate the World Refugee Day.

More than 1,000 Syrian refugees girls in Jordan will learn how to transform thermal blankets into coats to keep them warm during winter, thanks to a Dubai-based manufacturing firm and a fashion designer.
Launched by NRS International, Dubai-based humanitarian relief manufacturer, and designer Helen Storey, the #LoveCoats project aims to empower 1,250 adolescent girls through fashion and designing. The project was initiated to commemorate the World Refugee Day.
NRS International has donated 1,000 metres of thermal blanketing material for the cause. Storey, who is a researcher at the Centre for Sustainable Fashion at London College of Fashion, will be delivering the project to the camp between July 9 and July 17. 
Storey said the girls, who are called the Tiger Girls (These Inspiring Girls Enjoy Reading), at the camp are passionate about fashion designing and want to learn. 
"All the coats will be made by the Tiger Girls themselves," Storey said. "This project came out of an afternoon of conversation with the Tiger Girls last September. They were talking about their hopes and fears for the future and three themes emerged - a love for fashion and making, the wish to be able to gift others and a fear of the cold winter.
"The #LoveCoats project is inspired and co-created by the Tiger Girls. This will show them that we are listening to their wishes and the nature of their lives and in return, we are sharing how fashion can play its part in realising some of their hopes and dreams."
Farhaj Sarwar, managing director of NRS International, believes that the project is about hope, ambitions and about developing skills and passion for fashion. He said the Syrian crisis has displaced 11.3 million people - half of those affected are children and adolescents. Millions of children have also been forced to quit school. 
"We will empower the Tiger Girls in Za'atari camp by giving them the opportunity to learn how to design and make their clothes, giving them confidence and hope for a better future. And it will keep them warm in winter. These are powerful, brave young women who can explore their talents and ambitions, regardless of their situation," Sarwar said.
"Many children have fled their hometowns and have dropped out of school. The Tiger Girls want to learn against all odds. Helen has built an incredible network of fashion coaches who are teaching these young ladies invaluable skills to design and create fashion. Not only for their personal use, but also to start their own businesses."
sarwat@khaleejtimes.com