_{https://www.instagram.com/p/C4gvnm6NS7h/?igsh=MXBtbTBwZmh4NXN0MQ==}

_{https://www.instagram.com/p/CxNYwpKrPUi/?igsh=N2hkY292NmYxMXlm}

This is the second collaboration for Aries and Mia Khalifa, with the first being a 2024 calendar with the help of incredibly talented German Photographer Juergen Teller. This time, they collaborated on a t-shirt, emblazoned with a powerful message of solidarity and support for Gaza. 

_{https://www.instagram.com/p/C4gvnm6NS7h/?igsh=MXBtbTBwZmh4NXN0MQ==}

The design featured Khalifa in a veil, holding a watermelon as a pro Palestine tribute. Watermelon has long been a staple of food in the region, and young activists have adopted the watermelon emoji as a tribute, sign of solidarity and as a way of calling a ceasefire. The shirt was available for purchase on Aries’ website, with the aim to donate 100% of profits towards various organisations working in support of the people in Gaza. Specifically, Ghassan Abu Sittah, Children’s Fund, Addameer Palestineand Islamic Relief UK. 

Mia has been incredibly vocal about her support of Palestine, so much so that she was dropped from a Playboy podcasting deal after sharing content on her social media in support of the cause. The release of the t-shirt was a way to use her huge platform and influence to make a positive impact. She posted on her socials “if you can look at the situation in Palestine and not be on the side of Palestinians, then you are on the wrong side of apartheid, and history will show that in time.”

In a statement accompanying the launch of the t-shirt, Mia expressed her solidarity with the people of Gaza and her commitment to raising awareness about the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region. She urged her fans to join her in supporting those in need and to stand together in the fight for justice and peace.

_{https://www.highsandlows.net.au/blogs/journal/aries-arise-aw-23}

The collaboration between Khalifa and Aries was met with widespread praise and support from fans and followers around the world. Many took to social media to express their admiration for Khalifa’s activism and to applaud her efforts to raise awareness about the plight of the people in Gaza. The t-shirt quickly sold out, with proceeds going towards organisations providing aid and support to those affected by the conflict.

The release of the Aries t-shirt to support the people in Gaza was just the latest example of Khalifa’s commitment to using her platform for social good. In recent years, she has become a vocal advocate for a variety of causes, including women’s rights, mental health awareness, and LGBTQ rights. Through her activism and philanthropy, Khalifa has shown that she is more than just a former adult film star – she is a powerful force for positive change in the world.

_{Written By Lauren Dickson}

The post From Icon To Activist: Mia Khalifa X Aries For Palestine appeared first on Voir Fashion.

We’re talking about Diet Paratha, the Instagram page centered around showcasing South Asian creatives and their talent. The Instagram page that has now over 19k followers is the brainchild of New Zealand-born Londoner Anita Chibba, who wanted to fill in the representational gap in the creative industries and give light to the diverse South Asian talent that too often goes unseen.  We were wondering what it meant to run such a diverse community, what it is like to research and choose what talent to showcase and how to showcase it in the first place… we had a chat with Anita Chibba herself who let us into the world of ‘Diet Paratha’.

How did Diet Paratha come along? And what was the main factor that motivated you to launch the page?

I just never really saw South Asian people doing what I was interested in, such as invention and design. So through the power of the internet, I slowly started to discover all of their talents, and then that one thing led to another and now the platform has this really slick, curated vision of creative brilliance across the South Asian diaspora across the world, that you see today. 

How did you manage to achieve this goal? Do you believe that the way in which you represent this talent has shifted over the years?

Yes, but just because it used to be hard to find. If we’re going back five years ago, there was less talent. It really kind of feels like it’s our time now, and it’s just great that now there’s a selection of really high caliber talent to choose from. 

How do you find and choose the talent and the creatives to share and showcase?

I guess it’s similar to editing your Newsfeed to what you want to see. Your’s probably looks so different to my Newsfeed, right? Because you tailor them to suit your interests, and that’s the beauty of searching on social media. I am really strict with my curation,  like really strict, and I only ever post what I wish I had done myself (to some degree).

What is your favourite part about the process of discovering new talent?

Meeting new people, connecting with new people and making stuff happen together; we need to do stuff together. South Asians really help each other out and I wouldn’t be anywhere if it wasn’t for the support from the community of people that follow me, because they are the people that are talking to me, listening to us, and giving us a platform. All of the articles that I’ve been featured in are from other South Asian people writing about me which is really great, but also quite sad because it kind of proves that like other people, we’ve got work to do. There are a few allies here and there, but for the most part, the South Asian people are the ones interested in platforming each other.

How would you describe the current media industry? Do you believe that progress has been made in terms of the representation of the South Asian community? Or do you think there is still a long way to go?

Such a long way to go on the whole…  I think South Asian representation is more behind the scenes, if there’s any at all. When I say it’s more behind the scenes, [you need to] consider that there’s little behind the scenes so [there’s] even fewer in front of the cameras. But yeah, we’ve got such a long way to go. We collectively have our own lanes and life, but we should just [spread] the message and get our people out there. Because I mean, representation is such a battle and, there are so many hoops that you need to jump through internally. 

It’s usually a white team that you’re pitching to. So I think that whether it is representational or not, that kind of community spirit is the only thing that’s going to really help push these things forward, as well as having, black indigenous and people of colour on the teams and internally. As I said, these people have skin in the game, they actually care, they’re going to seek out these people to write about them in a similar way to how people wrote about me.

What do you think is the hardest challenge in achieving this goal in a long-term manner?

You need to be platformed by bigger platforms in order to help shift this narrative. I’m grateful enough to be working with brands that are owned by people of colour, or via teams; they really understand the importance of supporting communities. And so the biggest challenge is having to convince those other brands that this is a worthwhile cause; that we’re not just seasonal, we’re not just topical, such as when it comes to things like Diwali. You don’t just have to talk to me about racism, don’t come to me at disaster, come to us to help the prevention of these things. It’s just as important to celebrate marginalized communities before the disaster. 

What is your opinion on the use of social media for representation and activism? Do you believe that a real change can be achieved through it?

I think social media is a vital tool to help spread the message, but obviously, one repercussion of this is performance activism. But whether the action is performative or not, it can help. The resurgence of Black Lives Matter last year was a global phenomenon that got people at least talking if not acting – which is a shame, obviously – but social media is a very powerful political tool and can help to shift the narrative. 

What would you say has been your biggest achievement since creating this platform? 

Having and cultivating a community that is so supportive. There are various big projects coming in from renowned brands, which I’m really proud of, but it’s more than that. It’s the fact that I’ve got this community, this bank of people that if I need someone, I can talk to some of them and they are going to help me and vice versa. It’s about cultivating this familial environment. For example, when you meet another South Asian, you just have a connection with them. It’s easy to talk to them, they just get it… If one of us wins, we all win.

Words by Chiara Ferrari

_{Image Credits: Stylist/Model: @diet_paratha
Photographer: @lareeshaye
MUA: @libbymcleodmakeup}

The post Meet Diet Paratha: The Instagram Page That’s Changing The Eurocentric/Western Narrative Of The Creative Industries appeared first on Voir Fashion.

Back in March 2021, a coalition of artists and activists planned a 10-week long series of various forms of protest against the leadership of the New York, Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). Explaining their case, Strike MoMA directs attention to the chair of the museum’s board, billionaire, Leon Black who has financial links with, convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein. Pressured from outsider activists and board members, Black announced his plans to step down in March.

The International Imagination of Anti-National Anti-Imperialist Feelings (IIAAF) launched the campaign to Strike MoMA. Despite Black’s exit, the movement agrees the issue is the MoMA itself. Explained in the movement’s framework is the flaws of the MoMA: ‘The museum is converted into a theatre of operations where our entwined movements of decolonization, abolition, anti-capitalism and anti-imperialism can find one another.’ The power of the elite to declare what is formally recognised as art by a respected institution can alienate the rest of society, particularly those unrecognised by hierarchical systems.

The weeks of protest spanned from the Guerrilla Girls’ rewriting their 1990 Code of Ethics for Art Museums, to infographics from Decolonize This Place on museums trustees funding the NY police, to in-depth conversations on modernity, public protests, marches, and letters.

Though the 10-week protests ended in June with a march of hundreds to the MoMA entrance, the attraction garnered has perpetuated conversations to change the elitism of the art world. Their online explanations show the connected struggle between various strata of society that are trodden on by absurdly wealthy elites. Museums contain to perpetuate a view of white, Western, and male superiority; epitomising all other art against the Italian Renaissance or modernism of Dali, Picasso, or Duchamp.

Museums present a narrative of history, by constantly omitting people of colour and presenting a story of imperial success, they are refusing to move history forward with the narratives of today that allow for critical thinking of the past. For art to be declared modern or contemporary, it becomes embedded in its context. The surge of BLM support last summer defined the links between society, politics, and culture. By exhibiting the experience of artists of colour, refugees, the working-class, Indigenous peoples, and the results of colonialism today, museums can aid in critically viewing history and presenting a modern view of the past. Allowing for representation in museum spaces and fair chances to exhibit will increase the audience of those who view art, being able to relate to a subject in a museum or feel moved in an art gallery by an artist who you can understand will speak directly to many viewers.

Their movement brings together with shared ideas and expierences, from BLM, to freeing Palestine, being part of a union or a worker, and creating art, these people come together to defend themselves as a powerful mass against oppressive institutions. Strike MoMA will place the community of artists at the centre of decisions of what is considered art today, instead of at the hands of distant elites.

Words by Caitlin Sahin

The post Strike MoMA: How to Modernise the Museum appeared first on Voir Fashion.

An inspiration for generations to come. An artist who wasn’t afraid to push boundaries. A bold activist and feminist. This is Frida Kahlo.

Known for her signature mono-brow, her dreamy self-portraits and colourful traditional dresses, Frida is considered one of the most influential and important artists of all time. She is remembered to this day not only for her captivating art but also for her strong and determined spirit which led her to become a symbol of feminism.

The Mexican painter was herself an activist, using her art to heal from her personal traumas – from her physical problems to the miscarriage and her husband’s affair – but to even address cultural, religious and political matters. As a nationalist, some elements in her paintings hinted at her political views: from the clothing to the animals, the jewellery and the mythic references, they all reveal her commitment to her country’s history and beliefs.

Most of her artworks are self-portraits because, as she said, ‘I am my own muse. I am the subject I know best. The subject I want to better.’ Although they represent phases of her life, the messages they hold are universal.

Now a symbol in pop culture, Kahlo is an inspiration in art, fashion and culture. To mark her 113th birthday, we celebrate her legacy with some of her best artworks that will make you appreciate her art even more.

Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird (1940)

Completed in 1940, Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird is one of Frida’s most famous paintings which depicts her emotional state following the divorce from her husband Diego Rivera. Betrayal is always a tough pill to swallow and Frida represented it with a necklace made out of thorns adorned with a lifeless hummingbird.

Self Portrait with Cropped Hair (1940)

After her divorce, Frida wanted to reinvent herself: she cut her hair and started to wear men’s clothes. In Self Portrait with Cropped Hair, the painter challenges society’s conventions posing as a man. She expresses the ‘chains of femininity’, explaining how the ideal of beauty for a woman is strictly bond too long hair, flowing dresses and jewellery.

The Broken Column (1944)

In 1925, Kahlo was involved in a streetcar accident that left her with a broken spinal column and other major injuries. In the Broken Column, Kahlo depicts herself partly naked, pierced by hundreds of nails. The artwork is a representation of her physical pains after the accident and consequent surgeries. It was her own way to cope with all the pain caused by her unfortunate events.

The Two Fridas (1939)

Just like her previous artworks, The Two Fridas is in response to her separation from Rivera, but here she shows 2 sides of herself. One is heartbroken while the other has her heart intact. Once again the theme of love and coping with pain is the message of the painting. The struggle with her inner identity brings her to have two distant natures that deal with pain in different ways.

Viva La Vida (1954)

One of the last works Frida painted before her death, ‘Viva La Vida’ is not a self-portrait. It shows some watermelons, some cut in particular ways, with one slice in the centre adorned by Frida’s signature along with the artwork’s title. The message of the piece is simple: despite the deteriorating health of the artist, the title of the work is a tribute to life.

Words by Gennaro Costanzo

Graphics by Georgia Walters

The post Celebrating an Icon: Frida Kahlo appeared first on Voir Fashion.