Müzeyyen Hesen sews colorful dresses for women to celebrate International Women’s Day.

SARA ŞEX HESEN

Aleppo- The symbol of women's labor and resistance, International Women’s Day is celebrated by women with great enthusiasm every year. Women in NE Syria work at high pressure to celebrate their day. Women are planning to join the celebrations by wearing their colorful traditional dresses to keep their traditions alive. Women in NE Syria have already kicked off their activities for International Women’s Day with the motto, “Our Struggle is the Guarantee of the Women's Revolution”.

Müzeyyen Hesen is from Cûqê village of Afrin’s Mabata district. 49-year-old Müzeyyen lives in Shex Meqsûd neighborhood of Aleppo with her four children. She has worked as a tailor for more than 30 years to earn a livelihood. She has sewed dresses for women and on the International Women’s Day, she has designed and sewed dresses for women. We talked to her about her job and International Women’s Day.

“I sew dresses with love and effort”

Müzeyyen Hesen first wished a happy International Women’s Day to all women.

“Firstly, I wish a happy International Women’s Day to all women, who resist, rising against cruelty and making the world more beautiful with their labor. Women keep struggling and resisting in every part of life; I hope they can build a free life in the end. Now we know very well that freedom is much more necessary for us than bread and water. All women are making preparation for International Women’s Day with their color and effort; I sew traditional dresses. Women buy fabrics and bring them to me. I sew colorful dresses for them.”

Müzeyyen Hesen said she has been a tailor for more than 30 years.

“Sewing clothes, particularly traditional dresses, is not as easy as it is seen. It is a tiring job. I like my job even if it is hard. On the eve of International Women’s Day, I am very busy. I try to sew dresses with love and effort.”

“Our dresses show our history”

Müzeyyen Hesen thinks Kurdish women should always wear their traditional dresses. She feels happy when she sees colorful dresses.

“There are traditional Afrin’s dresses; sewing these dresses is really hard. But I keep sewing them. I like sewing dresses for women. Women wear their traditional dresses just on special days but they should wear their traditional dresses every day, not just a day. Our traditional dresses are our culture. Our dresses show our history, we should keep our culture alive. Our mothers still wear traditional dresses. Sewing colorful dresses for women makes me happy.”