Leather wallets with minimalist decorations are the first products produced by refugees at Studio Refugee in Genk, Belgium. The graphics tell the story of a Somali family of three daughters and their mom, fleeing to Belgium, after losing their brother and father to Somali pirates. Two daughters have been circumsized and now have health issues.
Studio Refugee is the brainchild of Belgian designer Sarah Rombouts, who already in 2014 asked herself how, by using her skills, she could mean something for the many refugees seeking asylum in her country. By talking to refugees, she found out that for most of them it is important to be able to tell their stories.
In its leather- and sewing-atelier in Genk Studio Refugee now matches (graphic) designers and design-students with refugees to design products that contain real refugee-stories. The project teaches refugees how to make the products they designed together with the designers. Purchasing a product from Studio Refugee means supporting refugees with work-experience and integration, like the Somali mother and het daughters. The products will be exhibited on the 28th of April in Genk.