Bagázs is preparing for the Christmas season with designer bags by contemporary artists and Roma seamstresses

By: Trademagazin Date: 2024. 11. 27. 09:01

The Bagázs Association has been working on the issues of Roma people living in settlements for more than a decade, implementing long-term, complex programs that contribute to helping children and adults achieve their goals. One such initiative is the SHANCO social enterprise and this year’s related art project: unique bags sewn by people living in the Dány Roma settlement are decorated with illustrations by contemporary artists. The design objects created in the collaboration will be presented to the public on November 28 at the opening of the Bura Gallery’s SHANCO, IN MOTION exhibition, where five artists’ works on the topic of social mobility can be seen. The exhibition is a highlight event of ART WEEKEND BUDAPEST (AWB), the theme of which this year is movement.

The association also contributes to social mobility in practice, the special collection will be available from November 28

The Dány Roma settlement in Pest County is home to a traditional Vlach Gypsy community, where women often work as housewives or public workers. To support them in their existential needs, the Bagázs team has developed a self-sustaining project, a social enterprise, that can provide a long-term livelihood for several women living in the settlement.

As part of the program, the seamstresses of Dány make bags, the sales of which can generate an independent income. This income gives them the opportunity to finance their own livelihood and support their families, thus making the social enterprise increasingly self-sustaining and offering more opportunities to women living in the Roma settlements. Five contemporary Hungarian artists have also joined the program, whose artworks on the topic of social mobility decorate the bags. The proceeds from the sales, in addition to providing financial compensation to the seamstresses and artists, also serve the sustainability and long-term marketable operation of the business.

Dr. Both Emőke, co-chair of the Bagázs Közhasznú Egyesület, said about the project that an important aspect when coming up with the concept was that the finished bags were not just handmade products purchased for charitable purposes, but cool design objects that bridge the boundaries between everyday function and art.