NASREEN MUSE
THIS week, all this talk about Women's empowerment brings me fully on to this week's Muse of the week and what a Queen she is. Here is an excerpt from something i wrote a few years ago, if you don't have time to read skip to the Muse image below!!!
"Its 2007 I’m a brick building with open square walls cut out for windows and air. I am completely immersed in a cloud of what looks like mist, the smell is deep, musty and potent. I forget where I am, what my name is I’m feeling heady and parched. A young woman with dark almond skin appears before me her eyes are circular, wide and tell a million ancient stories, her hair glistens jet black swept up in a bun, the whites of her eyes like diamonds pierce into me. The jetlag veils my vision until she touches my arm sweetly and nods down at the pile of embroidered dresses she is carrying.
I check back in, I'm in India visiting my second factory of the day. The kindness that emanates from this woman is real, authentic, she seems to care so much for her work. As I look down at my auditing clip sheet my mind races with more burning questions “How old are you? How long have you worked here? Do you like it? Do you have a family? Where are they? Children? Where do you live? What does your day look like? This was the first time I realised after years of working in Fashion the real people were working for pittance to make these expensive clothes for Women in the west to wear out to a party. The people I met in the factories were so warm hearted and generous. What felt like a step change from the cooler sophisticated London offices, almost a step back in time. I knew in that moment I wanted to bring awareness to these women, I wanted to share how clothes were made. To give these women a voice within the world of Fashion in the west"...
The Muse of the week is Nasreen Sheik Global advocate for women's empowerment, international speaker and founder of the Empowerment Collective, check out her work here
TRUE WARRIOR QUEEN
Learn more about Nasreen here on my insta post. Her journey from Child slave in a sweatshop to Women's empowerment leader. My ode to the women in the factory back in 2007 was to break the silence of these garment workers, give them a voice in the west and so we can hear their stories.
Nasreen has opened my heart, mind and soul to what is means to use our privilege as a Human on this Earth and what it means to truly take the responsibility with newfound Awareness.
Transforming her experience into power and not only living with that but helping and transforming the lives of many many women and children. Liberating the lives of many but as she explained in the interview i had with her (which I will share with you all next week) - she is ONE WOMAN and she needs your help.
Think about donating to her charity and if you have any skills in marketing, resources, skills that could spread her message. Please please think about it. Even just sharing on your social is one step.
The words that came to mind were EMPOWERMENT, DEPTH, HUMAN SPIRIT, GRACE, POWER, LIBERATION, COURAGE, LIGHTHOUSE, SOVEREIGN
How can these understandings influence how you show up today?
What you wear?
What you share?
Some of it seems really hard-hitting and heavy-hearted when we learn that children and women are oppressed by this system of Fast Fashion however i encourage to keep showing up with open-heart and a curious mind. WE make these shifts one action at a time.
INNER MOOD
The key elements I take from Nasreen are these inner feelings:
I AM FREE
I am WORTHY
I here to liberate the systems that stop me from shining
I SHARE my POWER
EMPOWERED knowledge
"Tell me what do you plan to do with this one wild and precious life" - Mary Oliver
Does she conjure up emotions or expressions for you?
Can you drop some Courage, Spirit and Empowerment flavours into your day today?
