DFA In Conversation with Meera Toukan
Meera discusses her commitment to sustainability, empowering women, and spreading love and unity through fashion.
Meera discusses her commitment to sustainability, empowering women, and spreading love and unity through fashion.
Graphics & Article by Rania Abdalla
Images courtesy of Meera Toukan
Images courtesy of Meera Toukan
Introducing Meera Toukan Designs
In 2013, Meera Toukan was already gaining recognition in the fashion industry with her unique streetwear designs that blended Eastern and Western influences. Her passion for showcasing her heritage was evident in her early works, featuring keffiyeh calligraphy on hoodies, sweatpants, and t-shirts.
Determined to take her artistry to new heights, Meera set out to create a statement clutch that could be worn day and night. During the pandemic, she worked tirelessly on her new concept, which would soon become a sensation in the fashion world.
As the visionary founder of Meera Toukan designs, Meera seeks to challenge the Western-centric narrative of fashion by seamlessly blending Eastern and Western influences in her designs. Her dedication to her craft is a testament to her artistic prowess, and her innovative use of plexiglass, embroidery, and keffiyeh calligraphy in her clutches is a stunning reflection of her identity and roots.
Heritage-Inspired by Keffiyeh
Inspired by her cultural roots, Meera conceptualized a plexiglass clutch infused with the striking aesthetic of the keffiyeh calligraphy. For Meera, as a Jordanian/Palestinian living in London, it was important to share her heritage and culture with the world. It was a labor of love, a trial and error process that left her unsure of whether this new venture was worth pursuing. However, her unwavering commitment to excellence prevailed, and Meera decided to push forward with her vision, offering customizations that gave her customers the freedom to personalize their clutch according to their unique preferences.
Amidst the bustling fashion world, Meera designer stands out for her unique approach to merging calligraphy and sustainability. For her, calligraphy is not just a form of writing, but a canvas to unleash her creativity and ingenuity.
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Meera’s Stance on Sustainability
While she is committed to crafting contemporary designs, she also cares deeply about supporting local artisans and preserving traditional crafts. Meera began expanding into embroidery and beading, collaborating with local women artisans in Jordan to support their handmade craft.
"In order to be sustainable, you must support your local community. As part of my commitment to my brand, I personally hire local artisans to honor their art, crafts, and skills. By working with them, I am not only supporting myself, but I am also supporting other women. They have a lot of hidden talent. Working with them and showcasing their talents through embroidery and beading is a pleasure." - Meera
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Though plexiglass may not be the most eco-friendly material, she is determined to minimize her impact on the environment by using a sustainable approach. "Everything I do is based on recycling and reusing materials. For example, I reuse what is left of the plexiglass and repurpose it to create rings. I recyle and reuse materials that were previously used and had leftovers." - Meera
As the sustainability movement gains momentum in the Middle East, she is keen to remind everyone that it takes many different forms. "Sustainability is not just about limiting the use of plastic materials or not overproducing. It also takes other forms of practice." For Meera, this means examining the organizational culture of her brand and ensuring that it is ethical and sustainable for employees.
With Meera’s commitment to calligraphy and sustainability, this designer is proving that fashion can be both innovative and mindful of its impact on the world.
The Importance of Empowering Women
Meera Toukan is not only a talented fashion designer but also a strong advocate for women's empowerment. She believes in creating an inclusive and supportive environment for women to help them feel more confident in their abilities and pursue their dreams with ease.
Meera emphasizes the importance of providing equal opportunities and resources for success to encourage and empower women in their pursuits. This can include mentorship programs, networking opportunities, and safe spaces for women to share their experiences and learn from each other. She also advocates for gender equality, such as pay equity and equal access to education and healthcare.
Meera's commitment to empowering women is reflected in her brand's ethos, and she hopes to continue to inspire and uplift women through her work.
“Providing a more inclusive and supportive environment for women can help them feel more confident in their abilities and pursue their dreams with ease." - Meera
Spreading Love and Unity Through Fashion
Meera's brand has three pillars - Salam (peace), Horeya (freedom), and Hob (love), which aim to spread unity and acceptance through sustainable fashion. Each clutch is handmade to order, supporting local artisans and preserving traditional crafts.
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"Salam, Horeya, and Hob represent peace, freedom, and love - three values I hope to spread through my designs. I hope to see peace across all over the region. I hope women get the freedom they have been fighting and asking for. And I hope everyone feels and spreads love."- Meera
Vibrant colors are a signature of Meera's designs, which she draws from nature's unique shapes and colors. She believes that colors have unique meanings, associated with the chakras, and carrying a green bag might help a person feel more at peace and love.
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As the visionary founder of Meera Toukan designs, Meera seeks to challenge the Western-centric narrative of fashion by seamlessly blending Eastern and Western influences in her designs. Her dedication to her craft is a testament to her artistic prowess, and her innovative use of plexiglass, embroidery, and keffiyeh calligraphy in her clutches is a stunning reflection of her identity and roots.
Heritage-Inspired by Keffiyeh
Inspired by her cultural roots, Meera conceptualized a plexiglass clutch infused with the striking aesthetic of the keffiyeh calligraphy. For Meera, as a Jordanian/Palestinian living in London, it was important to share her heritage and culture with the world. It was a labor of love, a trial and error process that left her unsure of whether this new venture was worth pursuing. However, her unwavering commitment to excellence prevailed, and Meera decided to push forward with her vision, offering customizations that gave her customers the freedom to personalize their clutch according to their unique preferences.
Amidst the bustling fashion world, Meera designer stands out for her unique approach to merging calligraphy and sustainability. For her, calligraphy is not just a form of writing, but a canvas to unleash her creativity and ingenuity.
Meera’s Stance on Sustainability
While she is committed to crafting contemporary designs, she also cares deeply about supporting local artisans and preserving traditional crafts. Meera began expanding into embroidery and beading, collaborating with local women artisans in Jordan to support their handmade craft.
"In order to be sustainable, you must support your local community. As part of my commitment to my brand, I personally hire local artisans to honor their art, crafts, and skills. By working with them, I am not only supporting myself, but I am also supporting other women. They have a lot of hidden talent. Working with them and showcasing their talents through embroidery and beading is a pleasure." - Meera
Though plexiglass may not be the most eco-friendly material, she is determined to minimize her impact on the environment by using a sustainable approach. "Everything I do is based on recycling and reusing materials. For example, I reuse what is left of the plexiglass and repurpose it to create rings. I recyle and reuse materials that were previously used and had leftovers." - Meera
As the sustainability movement gains momentum in the Middle East, she is keen to remind everyone that it takes many different forms. "Sustainability is not just about limiting the use of plastic materials or not overproducing. It also takes other forms of practice." For Meera, this means examining the organizational culture of her brand and ensuring that it is ethical and sustainable for employees.
With Meera’s commitment to calligraphy and sustainability, this designer is proving that fashion can be both innovative and mindful of its impact on the world.
The Importance of Empowering Women
Meera Toukan is not only a talented fashion designer but also a strong advocate for women's empowerment. She believes in creating an inclusive and supportive environment for women to help them feel more confident in their abilities and pursue their dreams with ease.
Meera emphasizes the importance of providing equal opportunities and resources for success to encourage and empower women in their pursuits. This can include mentorship programs, networking opportunities, and safe spaces for women to share their experiences and learn from each other. She also advocates for gender equality, such as pay equity and equal access to education and healthcare.
Meera's commitment to empowering women is reflected in her brand's ethos, and she hopes to continue to inspire and uplift women through her work.
“Providing a more inclusive and supportive environment for women can help them feel more confident in their abilities and pursue their dreams with ease." - Meera
Spreading Love and Unity Through Fashion
Meera's brand has three pillars - Salam (peace), Horeya (freedom), and Hob (love), which aim to spread unity and acceptance through sustainable fashion. Each clutch is handmade to order, supporting local artisans and preserving traditional crafts.
"Salam, Horeya, and Hob represent peace, freedom, and love - three values I hope to spread through my designs. I hope to see peace across all over the region. I hope women get the freedom they have been fighting and asking for. And I hope everyone feels and spreads love."- Meera
Vibrant colors are a signature of Meera's designs, which she draws from nature's unique shapes and colors. She believes that colors have unique meanings, associated with the chakras, and carrying a green bag might help a person feel more at peace and love.
"Colors have the power to energize a person, and each color has a unique meaning." -Meera
In conclusion, Meera Toukan is a talented designer who has carved out a unique space in the fashion industry with her heritage-inspired designs and commitment to sustainability and women's empowerment. Her dedication to preserving traditional crafts and supporting local artisans in Jordan is admirable, and her use of plexiglass, embroidery, and keffiyeh calligraphy is a stunning reflection of her identity and roots. Through her brand's three pillars of peace, freedom, and love, Meera aims to spread unity and acceptance through sustainable fashion. With her innovative and mindful approach to fashion, Meera is proving that creativity and ethics can coexist in the industry.Don't miss out on the latest from Meera Toutan - make sure to follow her on @meeratoukan and check out her on her website!