Let’s see what the numbers say first. 1 in 5 women (20%) will be sexually assaulted while at college while only 4% of college men will face the same. 42% of women who are raped tell no one about the assault. Rape results in about 32,000 pregnancies each year. 42% of raped women expect to be raped again. Rape survivors are 13 times more likely to attempt suicide than people that aren’t victims. Over a third of women who are raped as minors are also raped as adults. 40% of rape survivors develop sexually transmitted diseases as a result of sexual assault. 4 out of 5 rape victims subsequently suffer from chronic physical or psychological conditions.
Budding stylist Karenhappuch Ibiara was left unsettled by the above statistics, she decided to do something about it. Through her power which is fashion, she’s #MakingModernNoise in a campaign to stand with victims of rape, sexual harassment and domestic abuse. And what better way to raise awareness than with a T-shirt line, after all, wearing your heart on your sleeve is the ‘new cool’.
We had a chat with Karenhappuch on what this means to her, and how you out there can partake in this campaign.
Tell us about Karenhappuch Ibiara. Who are you and what do you do?
Well, I’m so many things; a creative director for a soon to be launched clothing brand IBIARA, a professional fashion and personal stylist and an advocate for social justice.
There are so many ways to champion your cause, why did you choose to do this through a t-shirt line?
I think prints on Tshirts is an easy and inexpensive way to put a message across. Because this is something that can be worn for a while with a message that’ll stick. Plus everyone likes a fancy tee.
The t-shirts are emblazoned with statements such as ‘No hard feelings‘, Modern noise‘, Fight like Girls‘. What’s the significance of these statements?
This is a campaign aimed at creating awareness that rape, domestic violence, sexual harassment and assault are real. The phrases are the immediate responses and reactions from the victims that I reached out to. MODERN NOISE – Calls out the vice, NO HARD FEELINGS– Is the road to recovery, FIGHT LIKE A GIRL– Is to encourage other victims that they can find their lives again, NOT TODAY SATAN – Is a fightback from victimisation, not focusing on what happened and that it won’t stop them from moving on.
Do you think we are not doing enough awareness?
We aren’t doing enough. Yes, a number of us are aware that this is happening, however not much is done to help victims move past it and carry on with their lives. Recovery is such an important step in curbing the vice because it allows victims to speak out. That way, more awareness is created. We need to help victims. Who knows? This could save a life or two.
Let’s talk about the styling of the campaign shoot. What was the inspiration for it?
Black and white was the mood of the campaign. I worked with flowers because they’re beautiful and fragile, just like the victims. The NOT TODAY SATAN has these dripping away birds which symbolise the victims being torn away from themselves although they still manage to stay still.
Amazing. What was the experience working on the shoot with the entire team?
This was my very first project in Kampala. It was very different yet exciting. Not many people relate with my design aesthetic so I had many ‘side eyes’. However, the team I worked with was super amazing and patient with me. I am looking forward to doing more amazing work in Kampala.
How do you describe your aesthetic?
It’s very avant-garde. I’m more experimental with design and would normally stay away from any sort of pretty. More like the Gaga kind of style.
How would you like one to style these t-shirts for an ordinary day outing?
Since they’re casual street wear, I’d advise one to throw on a high-waisted pair of wide-legged pants or boyfriend jeans.
How can one get their hands on the t-shirts?
At the moment, I’m taking orders through my email and social media and making free deliveries within Kampala’s CBD.
satisfashionug@gmail.com
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