BRITISH DESIGNER JULIA GASH DONATES FOR EBOLA CAUSE

[Vivian Zhang]

British designer Julia Gash is making a donation for Médecins Sans Frontières‎ through her cool and collectible African inspired tote bag collection: “Things I Know About Africa” in order to help fight Ebola.

Julia Gash is the chief designer of Sheffield-based eco-bag brand, Talented and designed a series of tote bags, which use African inspired fabric and include positive and interesting facts about the continent such as the number of elephants that live in Africa or the number of languages spoken. The bags are made in England and are printed at Julia’s own eco-print factory in Sheffield, England.

Julia explained: “I was conscious that the news coming out of Africa is often so negative and I wanted to address this through my work by communicating the amazing ‘Things I Know About Africa’ through writing out and printing key facts that I had learned about the continent onto African inspired fabrics. “

After she created the collection, she recognized that Ebola is affecting more and more people and so she decided to donate all her design commission to a charity that her business also makes bags for and which is at the forefront of fighting the disease in Africa: Medecins San Frontieres.

Her combined aim is to raise interest in African culture and to help support the fight against Ebola. Her inspiration for the collection was motivated by a desire to communicate a positive message about an amazing continent, “which is full of stunning, geographical landmarks, beautiful flora and fauna as well as a rich cultural heritage”.

“The overall effect is one of unadulterated innocence and wide-eyed wonder of this magnificent place and is a celebration of Africa as a continent. The medium of print is my voice and Talented is the vehicle through which I can express my view on the world,“ she added.

The collection has been a resounding success worldwide and the bags are now being stocked in cool boutiques in Japan, Korea and throughout Europe.

Julia expressed inspiringly: “Ebola is a challenge for us all – the world will never be quiet, but we can always choose to make a difference.”