Fashion Friday: Ferka 16

I get so many compliments on this shirt. It's caused middle-aged men to stop in their tracks and spontaneously burst into poetry.

My husband literally had someone try to smooth-talk him into trading for it, while he was wearing it. At one event, it even got the one-word approval of the ever-fickle teenage crowd.

The design is by French-Lebanese artist and graphic designer Jacqueline Bejani, the talent behind Ferka 16, ("Squad 16") a line of high-quality hoodies, tees and tunics for men and women, combining classic Arabic texts with modern design and urban style.

Ferka 16 's philosophy lies in utilizing “the exceptional lines of famous poets as well as young and modern writers and everyday expressions to send you a message of tolerance, unity and strength.”

The shirt (see above) my husband and I have [read: "fight over who gets to wear" (they're intended to be unisex)] features two lines by the renowned medieval Iraqi poet Al-Mutanabbi (or the "gangster rapper" of the era, as my husband likes to say, in that Mutannabi boasts both of his erudition, smarts, and skills with the sword and the ladies [the quest to be a lover and a fighter is surely a timeless one, after all...]).

The poem goes:

"The desert knows me well, the night and the mounted men...the battle and the sword, the paper and the pen know me."

Jacqueline kindly responded to a few questions about her design process and her inspiration for her designs:

Famous proverb:

"If you happen to see the lion's teeth, don't think he's smiling at you."

Q: What is your design process?
A: First I choose the poems I want to use and then an image begins to form over the course of several weeks, enough time to get it just right.

The choice of an uplifting poem (note the bird soaring between the lines of poetry) by the great modern Tunisian poet, Abou el Kacem Chebbi, for this shirt:
(See Ferka16's site for the full translation.)

Q: What does the Ferka16 line express through its designs?

A: I think these t-shirts offer a youthful, convivial, open, and vibrant image of Arab culture. My idea is to create a simple and popular product. [But I also] see it as a long term project, allowing different designers, poets, writers and artists to participate in this project and create a certain artistic dynamic.

And I love the script on this one:

Which says simply: "Hope, anger, star, patience, person"

Q: Where did the idea of making your line of t-shirts originate?

A: I had the idea of making these t-shirts so that my kids, who were born in France, might be able to appreciate the grandeur of Arab poetry, which is truly magnificent ! (It’s also a good way to understand something about the Arab spirit.) But it also came from a reflection upon beauty! That of Arab beauty, which is never highlighted.

In Europe there’s a certain wariness about all things Arab, but I also believe that this wariness also exists amongst ourselves! Most of all, I wish that Arabs would be as happy and proud to wear an image that reflects their own culture as they would an American or European image that they already think is cool and meaningful.

The shirts are of very high quality cotton and the printing is bold and bright -- even more so than in the pictures. Check out the full line -- including women's styles, on the site.

For more on Al-Mutanabbi (including audio recitations of his poetry), see here. And for more information about the line & designer, check out this longer interview with Jacqueline from Now Lebanon.

All images courtesy Ferka16.