BELIFVE EMBROIDERED SHIRT RTS11-3

A BLUE SECOND-HAND SHIRT IS RE-ENGINEERED WITH A CROPPED, RAW HEM AND EMBELLISHED WITH TRADITIONAL HAND EMBROIDERY BY THE MILAYA PROJECT. THE BELIFVE SLOGAN IS INSPIRED BY HAND-DRAWN TAXI WINDOW ART IN KAMPALA.

THE BUTTON-DOWN SHIRT IS SLIGHTLY CROPPED TO CREATE A RAW, SIGNATURE BUZIGAHILL HEM. DUE TO THE ARTISANAL NATURE OF THE WORK, NO TWO SHIRTS ARE IDENTICAL.

A MILAYA IS A HAND-EMBROIDERED BEDSHEET THAT SOUTH SUDANESE GIRLS LEARN TO MAKE FROM THEIR MOTHERS AND GRANDMOTHERS. THEY ARE TRADITIONALLY USED AS DOWRIES AND DECOR. IN 2016, WHEN FAMILIES FLED THE WAR IN SOUTH SUDAN FOR UGANDA, THEY CARRIED ONLY WHAT THEY COULD WRAP AND TIE IN THEIR MILAYAS.

THE MILAYA PROJECT SUPPORTS SOUTH SUDANESE WOMEN ARTISANS BASED AT BIDI BIDI REFUGEE SETTLEMENT IN UGANDA, 11 HOURS FROM OUR KAMPALA STUDIO BY BUS.

IN KAMPALA, TAXI WINDOWS ARE ADORNED WITH HAND-DRAWN SLOGANS. RANGING FROM THE DEVOUT TO THE HUMOROUS, INSCRIPTIONS SUCH AS TRY JESUS OR EASY LOVE ARE A STAPLE OF THE CITY'S ICONOGRAPHY. LIKE THE CLOTHES WE UPCYCLE, TAXIS IN KAMPALA ARE THEMSELVES SECOND-HAND IMPORTS.

IT TAKES 21 HOURS TO UPCYCLE THIS UNIQUE RETURN TO SENDER SHIRT BETWEEN BIDI BIDI AND OUR STUDIO IN KAMPALA.

MEASUREMENTS

LENGTH: 65 CM

CHEST WIDTH: 66 CM

SHOULDER LENGTH: 51.5 CM

SLEEVE LENGTH: 62.5 CM

LENGTH: 25.6 IN

CHEST WIDTH: 26.0 IN

SHOULDER LENGTH: 20.3 IN

SLEEVE LENGTH: 24.6 IN

SUZY IS 175 CM (5'9)