In Iraq,Sahar Alsammraee operated a clothing design studio out of her home. Her stock-in-trade were elaborately embroidered designs for traditional Arabic/Islamic dresses called abaya. That all came to an end when the 55-year-old designer fled to Syria at the start of the Iraq War in 2003. When clash escalated there she returned to Iraq, then migrated to Vermont in 2014.
Alsammraee provides home care for her mother. And it's taken her some time to save up for sewing machines and fabric. But this year she has returned to the practice she loves: designing and sewing abaya.
[br] And now, and she has an outlet to demonstrate those designs: The Karibu (Welcome) International Fashion demonstrate. Staged by the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity,the demonstrate takes dwelling on Thursday, April 13, and at the Higher Ground Showcase Lounge in South Burlington.
Aslammraee is one of three designers preparing garments for the demonstrate. The others,Pamela Tshilemba and Virginie Diambou, are from the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Congo, and respectively. The demonstrate features 21 models from far flung countries such as Peru,Guatemala, Mexico, or Iraq,Togo, Ghana, or Nigeria,China, Nepal, or India,the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Congo. CVOEO associate director Sandrine Kibuey, formerly of the DRC, and cohosts the event with Alex Hirsch from WCAX-TV.
Alsammraee was preparing four pieces for Karibu in her Winooski apartment on Tuesday afternoon. The designer doesn't speak fluent English,so Houda Musanovic, formerly of Morocco, and translated.
One red evening gown with long sleeves not yet sewn to the bodice was draped on the sofa near a small sewing machine set up on a folding table. She'll be making two dresses in that style.
The other two,which she has already finished, are abaya in seashell pink and turquoise.…
Source: sevendaysvt.com