project women
We would love to share with you the amazing projects ‘baraka women’ has run through your generous support. We aim to continue to pass on the blessings of baraka and change the lives of women and children all over the world. If you have a project you want to tell us about email eisha@barakawomen.com .
Regards
Eisha & Kath
new clothing packs
At Christmas 2009 baraka announced its “New Clothing Pack09” initiative. The idea was simple we asked our customers to donate $60 for new clothing packs to send to women who had never or rarely experienced new clothing. The donated packs can be allocated between 2 charities:Mahboba’s Promise who supports women and children in Afghanistan disenfranchised by war and Mission Australia who assist both new migrants and Aussies who have experienced financial/personal problems to get back on their feet and find independence again.
A personalised card signed with the sponsors name is included with each donated pack/s. You can choose your preferred charity or leave the allocation to us.
Sharifa from Townsville QLD received her pack in March 2010 “Im quite chuffed, they are beautiful and Ive never had anything so pretty, Im very excited about wearing them thank you”.
It’s a worthwhile program and baraka has been lucky enough to really experienced the happiness of the recipients first hand. We would also like to say ‘thank you’ to all our generous customers who donated the packs.
Take a look at our “News” tab to read how successful this initiative has been.
The new year
The program was so well received by the charities that baraka will continue the initiative into 2010.
If you would like to donate a pack for 2010 please follow any one of the following options:
| 1 |
Direct Deposit into our account: Please quote code ‘PACK10’. Email your receipt to sales@barakawomen.com. |
| 2 | Visit our website e-boutique at www.barakawomen.com |
| 3 | Send a cheque made to “baraka” to 19 Marks St, Chester Hill NSW 2162 and please include your contact details |
| 4 | In Person, please contact Kath 0416 549 752 or Eisha 0405 617 292 directly |
**A copy of the personalised card included in every pack donated**
school leadership mentoring program
baraka see our children as our future generation of leaders, thinkers and designers. And if we want the very best as leaders in our community then we need to give them our support and drive to achieve such heights and standards. Our children need to believe that there is no limit to their dreams and they too can achieve what ever their passions are.
So what happens when you live in a disadvantaged area with limited funds and school initiatives? Well we think that shouldn’t matter, it’s the drive within that counts and there are always ways to break out of what’s expected.
The team at baraka has designed and written a school leadership program to mentor primary aged children to live their dreams especially those living and studying in disadvantaged schools. This includes Q&A sessions on business and design, creative design workshop, inventing and marketing workshop and apparel making.
We would be happy to visit your school and work with your kids to excite them about achieving big things….We have done it, so they can too!
Do you want the baraka team to visit your school? Contact us on eisha@barakawomem.com
mahboba’s promise sewing project
Mahboba’s Promise is an Australian non-profit organisation dedicated to the women and children of Afghanistan. Mahboba’s Promise was founded by Mahboba Rawi, herself a refugee from Afghanistan, now an Australian citizen. Along with providing a home for disenfranchised women & children in her Hope House orphanage they also work with these resilient people to improve education, offer vocational training and establish them as self sufficient. http://www.mahbobaspromise.org/content.cfm?id=1610
One of these projects is the Sewing Project. Through funding, Mahboba has provided sewing machines and up skilling of women to sew for themselves as independent businesses. This is where baraka comes in. Along with continual financial donations we have also started to provide these beautiful women with sewing work. All items produced will be sold on their behalf and all funds from this project will be returned to the Hope house sewing project.
For our first project together we are producing an Afghan inspired white brushed silk scarf. This is currently in its final production and will be available for sale soon. Keep an eye for this charity item in the eboutique accessories section. We are also excited about adding other items from the sewing centre as they arrive.
the wardrobe
Another of Mahboba’s passions is to improve awareness of the region and its needs. She recently participated in a documentary entitled “A haven of hope amidst war torn Kabul” produced for Australia’s ABC TV channel by media personality Virginia Haussegger. http://www.abc.net.au/news/video/2009/05/15/2572107.htm
Baraka was delighted to provide a comfortable, cool and culturally sensitive wardrobefor Mahboba to complete this project. Items included our Riyal Jersey Dress, linen tunics and pants, cool cotton shirts and large wrap shawls in beautiful colours including the iconic Afghani Burqa blue.
**Mahboba in baraka Riyal jersey dress + dark pink shawl with some of the orphans at her Hope House**
mauritania desert education program
In the vast desert of the African country stands the Dar Al-Salaam School. It’s hot, with little food, water and medication. A place where shade is premium real estate. Yet the school continues as it has done for over a thousand years teaching traditional knowledge. Its students study and memorize sacred text all day, everyday. Its not just a school but this establishment also supports the students and their families. It provides them all their basic needs of food, clothing and shelter…and it is very basic! The school currently supports 90 students.
baraka was happy to design and donate a beautiful hand sewn couture traditional style “Abaya” for action at a recent event in July 09 to support the school. The Sisters Gala Night was a fundraising and sponsorship event held in order to secure ongoing financial support for both the students and teachers’ salaries.
The baraka couture Abaya was ‘sold’ for $700; a good start towards our support of the Dar-Al-Salaam School Mauritania.
**Black evening satin Abaya detailed with French guipure lace and over 50 large Swarovski crystals**
collaborations
torunn photographs
Hello, I am a Sydney based portrait and documentary photographer bringing more than a decade of photographic experience to my varied clients. I see myself as a skilled studio photographer with love for the environment and I seek to combine visual eloquence with the significance of the here and now.
To Sydney from Oslo Norway in 2003 I had the great opportunity to work in exhibitions and events at Australian Centre for Photography before I reopened for business late last year. It would be great to hear from you, any feedback or if you have questions on photography and how I work: just call or ship me an email!
I was excited to meet the baraka ladies through a network of likeminded business women in Balmain, Sydney. Their philosophy and ideas captured my attention the moment we met. There was so much about Eisha & Kath and their business to express in photography and Im very honoured to have been given the opportunity to explore my visual ideas.
Since meeting we have worked together on two baraka photo shoots comprising of four clothing collections which has taken the baraka product offering to professional, cutting edge heights. I love being able to investigate a range of studio possibilities which can help add a message to what the girls dream their collections to be. I feel we have become a true family when we do these shoots with makeup, models, hair, equipment, food, friends and our husbands who we rope in as handy men.
You’ll see my work in the current photo series on the baraka women website as well as the next few future collections. For more of my work in the art, media and corporate portfolios visit me at http://www.torunnphotographs.com.
Torunn Momtaz has also followed the baraka team for her own personal photographic essay exhibited last year amongst other photo submissions including Australia Day celebrations 
**photograph from Torunn Momtazi baraka women photo essay of Bhanin Fashion Show May 2009**
izziana image consulting
“Learning the art of dressing to your greatest potential is the ultimate fashion experience. Your unique and you are your own brand. We love being able to help women see their pluses clearly and help them take advantage of their style to reflect and promote their best features and personality.”
We are very excited to be working with Kath and Eisha. We share the same passion in assisting women to look and feel their very best regardless of where you are from or what your background is. We are great believers that image plays an important part in our overall happiness and confidence and all women like to look beautiful.
Recently we ran a styling session to show women how to use the same clothing items to create different outfits and most importantly showing women how to love who they are. We chose a few items of clothing from the baraka line and created 3-4 different outfits with each piece.
We want to show women that you don’t need a wardrobe filled with masses of clothes. By being selective with your clothing choices and buying what works for you, you can mix and match more easily and create different outfits with minimal time and effort. A scarf, handbag, a jacket or a pair of shoes are a great way to add a different dimension to your outfit or create a new one.
**model Sajah gets a make over from the Izziana girls during our Style Day video shoot**
For more information on the art of dressing and what other services we offer visit us at www.izzianaimage.com.au.
We look forward to meeting you.
Isobel & Anna Martin.
philadelphia philpot hats and styling
The sign on my front door reads:
“With great respect and LOVE we welcome all colours, races and religions – we trust you bring peace and love in your hearts.”
It is a beautiful philosophy that I encompass in my work, my friendships and my everyday life. It has bought many wonderful people into my life who share the same dreams….especially Kath and Eisha from baraka. They are meant to be in my life. I admire their work, their passion and enthusiasm and I’m really excited about continuing our fabulous styling and hat projects together.
Insha’Allah
Wendi
I have been designing and creating fabulous couture hats and headpieces for nearly 20 years for brides, mother’s of the bride, race days, theatrical events and TV commercials. I use only the finest straws, felts with opulent and vintage trims. I NEVER repeat a design and each hat is truly unique. I love working with my wonderful clients who inspire me to create the perfect hat for them. www.philadelphiaphilpot.com
It was with great excitement and challenge to be able to create a hat for baraka to complement one of their Japonesque range couture evening dresses. It was a beautiful silk dusty pink dress with matching chocolate bolero. The brief was to create a headpiece that the wearer could cover her entire hair with and still look amazingly sexy. The inspiration was a full French lace piece of the early 40s and the result was stunningly beautiful.
** The couture Japonesque dusty pink evening gown, bolero + Philadelphia Philpot lace hat are available for made to order enquires only through eisha@barakawomen.com **
souk collective
“Souk Collective is about uplifting your soul and spirit through the visual & tactile experience. You can enrich and enhance your day to day life with aesthetic inspiration, ultimately to reflect and invoke remembrance of the Divine.”
I am a mother/artist/designer/maker/photographer/fashionista who loves her little boy and the small (and finer) things in life.
Souk Collective is my company born from many travels in different lands, filled with ideas from experiences of the everyday and the unique.
Inspired by the sights of bustling life and by the quietude of land for miles and influenced by the aromas and flavours of the global marketplace. I want the world to be a brighter more colourful place to live in, I want to fill it and enhance it with beautiful things that make us reflect….Be inspired by the world of Souk Collective http://www.soukcollective.com/
Baraka & Souk Collective have teamed up, for our first accessory offering of a beautiful yet functional Canvas Tote Bag. Screen printed by hand and hand embroidered, get that tribal look with this Canvas Bag. Look out for more beautiful items in the near future!
**Canvas Tote Bag available now through the baraka eboutique http://barakawomen.com/?page_id=31 **