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Designer Jill Boggiss is urging women from across the kingdom to donate any unwanted fabrics and scarves to transform into beautiful fashion must-haves … and it’s all for a good cause.
In November last year, the 57-year-old leadership development consultant launched Sweet Jilly Designs, which features a range of cotton Kaftans, sari and silk jackets, chiffon shirts and scarves, to raise funds for a community initiative called The Saturday Biryani Party.
Jill, who has been living in Bahrain for the past 10 years, said: “The idea for Sweet Jilly Designs came about because I’ve been working with a community group who support construction workers by gifting a meal each Saturday and I wanted to help.
“I love textiles, I love clothes and I wanted to make a difference by raising money for the project.” The Saturday Biryani Party was started by Mahrukh Abbas and her family in May 2015.
They started offering meals to lowly-paid expat workers near her home in Saar. Before long, friends joined in the initiative and the number of meals distributed reached around 100 a week.
The idea received a further boost when her daughter, Behesht, received a community service certificate from her St Christopher’s School which she attends. Now, every week, the Saturday Biryani Party crew distribute between 350 to 500 meals at work sites around the kingdom.
A staggering 25,000 meals have so far been distributed. Bahrain Finance Company supports the group by providing the weekly Biryani meals, Coca-Cola help with drinks and members donate additional fruit and treats.
Each meal package costs around BD1. Jill featured her fashion line Kaftans for a Cause as a pop-up shop at Words Bookstore Cafe’s ‘More Words’ space with the aim of raising BD400 for the campaign last November.
After a launch party and a full day of trading, including purchases made by models and friends overseas, Jill generated BD2,000 in sales of which BD1,000 was donated to the cause.
She said: “This was twice the target I set. My idea was to recover my costs of production - not taking money for my time - and put the profit into the ‘pot’ to be used to buy meals. “It was a real team effort!
Friends helped with modelling, Abbas Khan and Beth Noble helped with photography, Words donated the space and many friends helped me with all kinds of things, including translation to help my tailor understand what I was saying. Thanks Tanzeel Jabbar for that!
“My tailors Abdul Majeed, Mohamed Baqer and Mohamed Mazhar also did great work for me and we now have a good working understanding based on pictures and sign language!” Due to the pop-up shop’s success, Jill has decided to continue with Kaftans for a Cause and is urging GulfWeekly readers to dig deep into their wardrobes for any surplus scarves to ‘upcycle’.
Upcycling is the process of converting unwanted items into new materials for environmental and charitable reasons and it’s becoming a growing trend in the fashion world. By making use of already existing pieces, the process keeps ‘unwanted’ items out of the waste stream.
Jill said: “People really love the idea of recycling scarves and there is something wonderful about passing on a lovely scarf for someone new to enjoy. Plus, I want to encourage people to recycle or ‘upcycle’ as too many clothes get thrown out and end up in landfill sites.
“Bahrain is a place where people probably have a lot of scarves and I’m hoping people will have a few to spare. “Also, during my recent travels to Australia and the UK, I have sourced vintage and pre-loved scarves and fabrics to recycle into new items that are truly one of-a-kind such as 1950s embroidered linen, crocheted ‘doilies’ and lovely scarves.
They are all ready to be up cycled soon.” Jill is aiming to feature her new upcycled work in September and believes she will ‘wow’ women with her fancy sari jackets and one- off pieces.
She said: “I love Indian and Pakistani cottons and saris and the simple designs of the kameez and Punjabi tunics together with extravagantly designed wraps made locally using locally sourced fabrics inspired my first work.
“They’re all made with love. I like the idea of producing unique pieces at a reasonable price using beautiful fabrics, skilled tailors and for the work to benefit everyone involved. I am also interested in fragments of embroidery and I am going to create a range that uses embroidery, lace and linen.”
While Jill never studied fashion, she always had a love for clothing and accessories. “As a child, I wanted to wear my party dress everywhere, but it just wasn’t done back then,” she added.
“I think that my early deprivation of sparkly clothes is to blame for my lifelong interest in clothes and my penchant for embellished and bright fabrics.” Sweet Jilly Designs features three lines called The Festival, The Beach and The Party which she says are all created with fun, glamour and comfort in mind for women of all ages to enjoy.
The kaftans, kimonos, shirts and jackets range in price from B10 to BD50. The talented designer is planning on continuing her fundraising efforts and is also contemplating the launch of another pop-up shop in April.
She is currently working on her website to make purchasing more accessible to people all over the world. Jill’s pieces are turning heads in the UK, Australia, Spain, UAE and Kuwait. One jacket even found its way to the US as a gift for a friend’s mother in law. Jill also took part in a charity event in London.
Drop off your surplus of scarves and fabrics at the British Club reception or Words Bookstore Café. For further details, email Jill on jill@insidechange.org
