Emirati women share their crafts with Florence students

Florence. “Italy is a country that values women; in particular we have caught the Accademia Italiana spirit that unites us in supporting women through ethical projects,” explains Ameera Binkaram, first councillor for the princess Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi (wife of the emir of Sharjah, H.H. Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi) at the Accademia Italiana's year-end events which took place April 16 at the Obihall Theater. The evening featured 300 outfits on the catwalk, designed by graduating students and the inauguration of an exhibit of the students' interior design and photography projects. The Florentine school's collaboration with the Emirate was made evident in a mini-collection of outfits that utilized decorative bands hand-worked by Emirati women. The bands of exceptional beauty took the women many months of work to create. “We've made great strides toward emancipation,” added Ameera Binkaram, spokesperson for the Princess, “but we do not want to discard our cultural heritage, largely characterized by artistic craftsmanship of great beauty”.