Herstory® Presented by The Story Network & College Association
For International Women's Day, Story and 'The College' present herstory®, highlighting groundbreaking feminist activists.
The joint project herstory® of the fashion chain Story and the association 'The College' reveals 8 T-shirts that tell the stories of feminist and trailblazing women, paying tribute to the ways they changed the world.
The project was created from the combination of the English names of the college association and Story, (Her Academy, Story) and is a correction to the term "History," which traditionally focused on "his story" and now emphasizes "her story." This project highlights the stories of eight revolutionary women who managed to bring about change against all odds. Just like the female students studying at the college, these women were revolutionary in their own right, larger than life figures who, despite challenges, changed and are changing their lives to create new paths for themselves.
The T-shirts, designed as well as the entire project by Dafna Bloch, a graphic designer, art director, lecturer at Shanker, and partner in the successful brand Lazy Eye.ppl, feature iconic quotes from pioneering women activists including:
Maria Wright Edekma, an inspiring American civil rights activist from the 1960s, who influenced leaders such as Martin Luther King. She founded the foundation for the protection of black children living in poverty, stating: "You can't be what you can't see."
Audre Lorde, a poet, philosophy professor, and women's and human rights activist, defined herself as a lesbian, black, socialist, mother, warrior, and poet. She dedicated her life to fighting all forms of injustice, proclaiming: "I am not free while any woman is unfree."
Rosa Parks, active in the American civil rights movement, led a severe boycott against discrimination of blacks by the bus company. After 380 days, the discriminatory law was changed. She famously said: "The only tired I was, was tired of giving in."
Nina Simone, a talented and groundbreaking musician, used her pain and anger to protest against oppression despite facing racism as a black woman in the USA.
Joan Didion, an American journalist, writer, and screenwriter, known for her sharp analyses on various subjects, advised: "You have to pick the places you don't walk away from."
Carol Hanisch, a radical feminist activist and member of the "Red Stockings" group, famously stated: "The personal is political."
Silvia Rivera, an American transgender bisexual activist, co-founder of the Gay Liberation Front and the organization S.T.A.R., declared: "I'm still a revolutionist."
Ronit Elkebats, an actress, director, and screenwriter from Israeli cinema, known for her work and activism, emphasized: "I know how to be true to myself, that's what I know best."
Fulfilling ambitions, desires, and dreams:
The college association works to enable every woman who is or has been in situations of prostitution and violence to earn a living from a profession of her choice. This includes providing knowledge and skills, fostering self-worth, and creating a sense of competence and belonging to the community. The association also assists in ensuring the necessary physical and social conditions for integration into society and the workplace.
The subjects studied at the college include back office, computer applications, QA, accounting, digital marketing, preparation for teaching Pilates, introduction to graphics (computer graphics), early childhood education support, secretarial and office management, bicycle mechanics, Hebrew, English, Arabic, and more.
The association provides additional holistic assistance, including rent payments, assistance in exercising rights (such as social security), debt settlement, and providing food and equipment for the students. The college offices are open five days a week from morning to evening, providing a relaxing and secure space where hot and nutritious vegan food is served throughout the day.
The founders and co-directors of the association are Iris Stern Levy and Tal Hamvi. Iris Stern Levy is a feminist activist and field worker since the 1990s, and Tal Hamvi is a former feminist activist and journalist with an MA degree in Women's and Gender Studies.
"One of our goals beyond the courses and vocational guidance is to create a community and a sense of belonging among the female students, since they often live in isolation due to past experiences and social stigma. We ensure social gatherings throughout the year, an annual trip, and celebrations such as New Year's Eve and Passover Eve together to prevent any student from feeling alone. We provide transportation, gifts, and vouchers for holiday clothes," they stated.
Equal opportunity for all:
911 Fashion, which operates the Story chain, was established in 2001 by Uri Raiz with the aim of offering the best brands globally to the local audience. The company represents brands with a green agenda that support sustainability and social responsibility. Brands represented and distributed by 911 Fashion include Scotch & Soda, Veja, Nudie Jeans, Vagabond, and others.
The Story chain comprises sixteen stores and six outlet stores throughout Israel, along with an online site. Additionally, 911 Fashion owns the exclusive franchise in Israel for brands such as Alo Yoga, All Saints, and Scotch & Soda.
The relationship between the Story network and the college association dates back to the pilot phase of the association before its establishment in 2016. Officials from the Story network teach and continue to teach female students trades in retail and office services, while integrating graduates into various positions within the network. It's worth mentioning that Uri Raiz, owner of the Story chain, is the partner of Tal Hamvi, one of the founders of the college association.
Adi Tigar Azoulai, VP of Marketing at 911 Fashion, stated, "At its core, the Story chain imports brands from around the world that tell stories and advocate for environmental and social agendas. The herstory® project is a direct continuation of our collaboration with the college association, reflecting our values of social equality and giving everyone an opportunity to integrate into society and feel valuable."
In addition to the herstory® project, the college association will set up a display with sentences of pioneering women from around the world at the main entrance of the Tialoi Mall in Tel Aviv, starting on Wednesday 3/6/24.
The herstory® T project will be available for purchase at the Story store, Dizengoff Square 94, Tel Aviv, and on the website. Sizes range from S to XL, with a price of NIS 180.
Jerusalem Post Store
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