Featuring: AZEEMA

Article
By Ollie Nicholas
16/01/19

Subtitle

Is there a lack of representation for Women of Colour within fashion and popular culture?

Contents

1. What is Azeema?

2. Why did you decide to create Azeema?

3. How did you go about beginning the process of creating the magazine? 

4. What does the latest issue focus on?

5. What are your plans for Azeema looking into the future/future issues?

6. How important do you feel creative outputs such as Azeema are in providing social commentary on societal issues?

Azeema

This week we had the chance to speak to founding editor of AZEEMA, Jameela Elfaki about her creative process, empowerment and the celebration of culture. AZEEMA is a fashion and culture print magazine, which explores resistance and femininity within Middle Eastern and North African women, and all women of colour.

Subtitle

Is there a lack of representation for Women of Colour within fashion and popular culture?

Contents

1. What is Azeema?

2. Why did you decide to create Azeema?

3. How did you go about beginning the process of creating the magazine? 

4. What does the latest issue focus on?

5. What are your plans for Azeema looking into the future/future issues?

6. How important do you feel creative outputs such as Azeema are in providing social commentary on societal issues?

This week we had the chance to speak to founding editor of AZEEMA, Jameela Elfaki about her creative process, empowerment and the celebration of culture. AZEEMA is a fashion and culture print magazine, which explores resistance and femininity within Middle Eastern and North African women, and all women of colour.
1. What is Azeema?

AZEEMA is a fashion and culture print magazine, which explores resistance and femininity within Middle Eastern and North African women, and all women of colour. We challenge and confront the issues surrounding diversity and representation within many industries, to create a place that is inclusive of women of colour and knowledgeable of Islamic faith, African, Arab and Asian culture. We aim to empower, not offend.

AZEEMA Magazine

2. Why did you decide to create Azeema?

AZEEMA magazine started as an out-of-reach idea in the back of my mind, which I knew that I had to pursue. Growing up, I noticed that there weren't magazines for women from the Middle East/North Africa and Women of Colour with a fashion and culture focus. I’m Sudanese/English, so I felt passionate about bringing a magazine to life that was understanding of the effects of culture clash and identity issues within young women. I wanted to make a magazine that wasn't just filled with pretty photos, but one that had meaning, depth, embraced women and celebrated culture, while challenging current stereotypes and representations.

AZEEMA Magazine

AZEEMA Magazine

3. How did you go about beginning the process of creating the magazine? 

During my placement year at university, I spent some time working with the photographic team at Dazed where I learnt a lot about the production of a magazine. This along with other internships helped me a lot when I began making AZEEMA. As a photographer, I started out with creating the images and the writing came after. I collaborated with other creatives and amazing women, most of who I found through social media – this helped me a lot during the process. I reached out to lots of amazing girls via Instagram and told them about the project and was so surprised by the responses and willingness to be involved. I'm a firm believer in the phrase, 'If you don't ask you don't get'.

4. What does the latest issue focus on?

The Habibi issue was a blend of controversial and compelling features, touching on issues of resistance, empowerment and femininity. This issue explored femininity in Morocco, protested women’s rights with ‘Sisters Uncut’ and visually explored ideas of strength and sexuality. The second issue will focus on identity. We aim to explore areas that will allow even more women to relate to AZEEMA, to help them connect to and understand their identities. Along with this, we will be focusing on self-love, beauty and strength with the objective always to empower.

We will be focusing on self-love, beauty and strength with the objective always to empower.

5. What are your plans for Azeema looking into the future/future issues?

AZEEMA now has a small team behind it and we are working hard to continue creating content for both print and digital media, which we hope will continue to empower and inspire other women. We want AZEEMA to be a recognised brand within the creative industry and a voice for like-minded women to express their views, free from censorship and misrepresentation, one that supports, motivates and encourages women along with other creatives.

AZEEMA Magazine

6. How important do you feel creative outputs such as Azeema are in providing social commentary on societal issues?

Extremely important. There is a lot of misconstrued and negative information in media, so creative outputs such as AZEEMA have the opportunity to reach out to individuals who have experienced these issues first-hand, and report or comment on them in the correct way, with the aim to educate and help others.

Be sure to go check out AZEEMA on social media and keep up to date with their work.

Bibliography

AZEEMA Magazine

Links

AZEEMA (https://www.azeemamag.com/)

Social

AZEEMA Instagram (@azeemamag)
AZEEMA Twitter (@azeemamag)

Share Post

Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on google
Share on email

Related Posts

Featuring: The Lesbian Lives Project

Article
By Ollie Nicholas
14/03/19
Elisabeth Real is a Swiss freelance photographer based in Madagascar. In 2005, she graduated from the University of Art and Design, Zurich, with a diploma in photography. Since then Elisabeth has been working as a freelance photographer, dedicating her life...

Featuring: Patagonia Worn Wear

Article
By Ollie Nicholas
22/02/19
The fashion industry is the second largest polluter after the fossil fuel industry. We are currently in an era of ‘fast fashion’, where we careless buy and throw away our clothes. Patagonia has always been a brand with an awareness...

Featuring: The ADHD Cooking School

Article
By Tom McGrath
15/02/19
Growing up with ADHD, Loyle Carner always found that cooking helped him concentrate and channel his energy in a positive way. With the ADHD Cooking School, the South Londoner hopes to use his experiences to help future generations, and tackle...

Featuring: Love Futbol

Article
By Ollie Nicholas
14/02/19
Love Futbol uses the core principles of the beautiful game to make a real change to communities in some of the toughest places in the world. Their projects provide children with a safe place to play, whilst giving the wider...

Featuring: Help Bristol's Homeless

Article
By Tom McGrath
12/02/19
Housing insecurity in the UK is at a critical point and it is vital that we end homelessness rather than just managing it. Follow the story of Jasper Thompson and Help Bristol’s Homeless as they aim to provide long-term solutions...

Featuring: Duncan Yeldham

Article
By Tom McGrath
18/01/19
From January 2015 to October 2016, an enormous camp of refugees was established in Calais during the height of the refugee crisis. The camp became know as ‘The Jungle’ and would be home to refugees fleeing conflict zones such as...

Featuring: The Lesbian Lives Project

Article
14/03/19
Elisabeth Real is a Swiss freelance photographer based in Madagascar. In 2005, she graduated from the University of Art and Design, Zurich, with a diploma in photography. Since then Elisabeth has been working as a freelance photographer, dedicating her life...

Featuring: Patagonia Worn Wear

Article
22/02/19
The fashion industry is the second largest polluter after the fossil fuel industry. We are currently in an era of ‘fast fashion’, where we careless buy and throw away our clothes. Patagonia has always been a brand with an awareness...

Featuring: The ADHD Cooking School

Article
15/02/19
Growing up with ADHD, Loyle Carner always found that cooking helped him concentrate and channel his energy in a positive way. With the ADHD Cooking School, the South Londoner hopes to use his experiences to help future generations, and tackle...

Featuring: Love Futbol

Article
14/02/19
Love Futbol uses the core principles of the beautiful game to make a real change to communities in some of the toughest places in the world. Their projects provide children with a safe place to play, whilst giving the wider...

Featuring: Help Bristol's Homeless

Article
12/02/19
Housing insecurity in the UK is at a critical point and it is vital that we end homelessness rather than just managing it. Follow the story of Jasper Thompson and Help Bristol’s Homeless as they aim to provide long-term solutions...

Featuring: Duncan Yeldham

Article
18/01/19
From January 2015 to October 2016, an enormous camp of refugees was established in Calais during the height of the refugee crisis. The camp became know as ‘The Jungle’ and would be home to refugees fleeing conflict zones such as...

DROPOUT

Close

Journal

Home →

Featuring: →

Future Forms: →

The Big Show: →

Trailblazers: →

Selects: →

Studio

Home →

Explore

Articles →

Radio Shows →

About

About Us →

Our Ethos →

Support Us →

Contact

Contact Us →

What's New

The Big Show: Youth vs Climate Change

Radio
By Ollie Nicholas
18/03/19
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Spotify
Mixcloud
Cookie Policy
Privacy Policy
Terms Of Use
DROPOUT
© 2019. All rights reserved.

DROPOUT

Close

Featuring: AZEEMA

↘

Cookies Policy

We use cookies on this website to analyse your use of our products and services, provide content from third parties and assist with our marketing efforts. Learn more about our use of cookies and at our cookie policy. By closing this window you agree to the use of cookies on this website.