✺Motherhood: Tokens of a Forgotten Language✺
A unique project looking into the forgotten language* found on Turkish kilims, expertly hand-knitted by Pakize Akçakese. Only five individual items of knitwear, exploring five different themes.
We put together symbols of a Ewer (arm), a Scorpion (back) and Hands on Hips (chest) to represent ‘Motherhood’.
Ewers are vase-shaped pitchers, representing purity. Despite the ugly sides of motherhood being a taboo subject in societies, you would be hard finding a mother who believes the journey of motherhood to be one of purity and perfection. So maybe, more importantly, we can re-write this complex journey away from this false narrative and celebrate the sheer urge to keep going as the purest aspect of motherhood.
Scorpions represent liberty, to symbolise an experience of motherhood, where mothers get to choose their own mould and write their own story, whatever that may be.
Hands on Hips is a stylised depiction of a female, representing life and womanhood. This symbol is often used to indicate that a kilim has been woven by a woman, which applies to these knitwear too. It is women writing themselves into history, and used here as a symbol of female solidarity.
*There is no written-index for this language, and though Weavers generally agree on the meaning behind most symbols, they are also open to interpretation, which is the beauty of it. You can learn more here.
Material: 100% Wool & Olive Wood Buttons
Details: Loose fit | Unisex
Size: M-L | Melis, pictured, is a size S
A unique project looking into the forgotten language* found on Turkish kilims, expertly hand-knitted by Pakize Akçakese. Only five individual items of knitwear, exploring five different themes.
We put together symbols of a Ewer (arm), a Scorpion (back) and Hands on Hips (chest) to represent ‘Motherhood’.
Ewers are vase-shaped pitchers, representing purity. Despite the ugly sides of motherhood being a taboo subject in societies, you would be hard finding a mother who believes the journey of motherhood to be one of purity and perfection. So maybe, more importantly, we can re-write this complex journey away from this false narrative and celebrate the sheer urge to keep going as the purest aspect of motherhood.
Scorpions represent liberty, to symbolise an experience of motherhood, where mothers get to choose their own mould and write their own story, whatever that may be.
Hands on Hips is a stylised depiction of a female, representing life and womanhood. This symbol is often used to indicate that a kilim has been woven by a woman, which applies to these knitwear too. It is women writing themselves into history, and used here as a symbol of female solidarity.
*There is no written-index for this language, and though Weavers generally agree on the meaning behind most symbols, they are also open to interpretation, which is the beauty of it. You can learn more here.
Material: 100% Wool & Olive Wood Buttons
Details: Loose fit | Unisex
Size: M-L | Melis, pictured, is a size S
A unique project looking into the forgotten language* found on Turkish kilims, expertly hand-knitted by Pakize Akçakese. Only five individual items of knitwear, exploring five different themes.
We put together symbols of a Ewer (arm), a Scorpion (back) and Hands on Hips (chest) to represent ‘Motherhood’.
Ewers are vase-shaped pitchers, representing purity. Despite the ugly sides of motherhood being a taboo subject in societies, you would be hard finding a mother who believes the journey of motherhood to be one of purity and perfection. So maybe, more importantly, we can re-write this complex journey away from this false narrative and celebrate the sheer urge to keep going as the purest aspect of motherhood.
Scorpions represent liberty, to symbolise an experience of motherhood, where mothers get to choose their own mould and write their own story, whatever that may be.
Hands on Hips is a stylised depiction of a female, representing life and womanhood. This symbol is often used to indicate that a kilim has been woven by a woman, which applies to these knitwear too. It is women writing themselves into history, and used here as a symbol of female solidarity.
*There is no written-index for this language, and though Weavers generally agree on the meaning behind most symbols, they are also open to interpretation, which is the beauty of it. You can learn more here.
Material: 100% Wool & Olive Wood Buttons
Details: Loose fit | Unisex
Size: M-L | Melis, pictured, is a size S
