explore fashion in the frameworks of those who make it
art is political, and thus, fashion is political. It gives way to a global interconnectedness as well as situations that are often of asymmetrical power and exchange.
local
nöl partners directly with local women's cooperatives, family-run sewing workshops, and artisans, keeping production hyper-local.
slow
at nöl many of our garments are made to order, which ensures that we create something just for you and reduce waste
political
The political reality for Palestinians is shaped by the military occupation which touches and shapes every element of our lives, including creativity. Isolated from one another geographically most of the artisans we are working with have never met and even need to work together digitally to bring garments to life, representing a creative endeavor which has triumphed over imposed borders.
environmental
Under the weight of military occupation and globalization, many of our textile traditions have been lost, such as hand-weaving fabrics from locally harvested natural fibers looms and naturally dyeing fabrics with dyes made with native plants and spices. Our designs aim to incorporate fabrics made using these traditions which are rooted deeply in a sustainable and harmonious relationship with the earth.
feminist
Our goal is to work with women-led business, women’s cooperatives, and women artisans to support people continuously marginalized. Fashion is both highly politicized and deemed frivolous because it is so largely feminist. In working with these women, we hope to illuminate a long history of women as vessels and passersdown of traditions and practices inherent to Palestinian culture.
our philosophy
Our work is built upon shedding light upon the intimate relationships between our bodies and the clothes we choose to put on them. In sharing the geo-political and social framework which affects the lives of those creating our clothes, we’re forging an informed conversation between consumers and producers.
We are passionate helping to illuminate an intersectional political and feminist framework which shapes our particular creative process. The production process is designed to help revive the local textile industry, supporting local artisans, focusing on women, and build a network of creatives typically isolated from one another. These garments represent to us the transcendence of the creative process and of the collective over physically imposed borders, signifying an act of defiance in and of itself.