AzoreanHood
Basic information
Project Title
Full project title
Category
Project Description
The AzoreanHood is inspired in the ‘Capote e Capelo’, a traditional Azorean garment worn up until the 1930s, which hood was shaped with baleen. The AzoreanHood are 3 detachable pieces which you can easily alter to suit changing needs: 1 bag, 1 cape and 1 hood. You can carry the cape in your bag, and the hood attached to the bag, to have rain protection at hand for whenever needed. An innovative and elegant design by Begs & Bags, made with with SEAQUAL® YARN containing Upcycled Marine Plastic
Geographical Scope
Project Region
Urban or rural issues
Physical or other transformations
EU Programme or fund
Which funds
Description of the project
Summary
This project combines culture heritage, sustainability and ocean literacy. Begs & Bags was launched in 2021, with two books and a fashion collection which are related. The books tell about the sperm whale Begs, who was born along the Azores. Begs discovers the marine plastic pollution issue and collects plastic, with which she designs the AzoreanHood. These books’ story meets with reality. The AzoreanHood is handmade in Azores, with SEAQUAL® YARN containing Upcycled Marine Plastic. We are proud to work with an Azorean atelier which is a solidarity economy project from a private institution of social solidarity. The AzoreanHood is inspired in the ‘capote e capelo’, a traditional Azorean garment worn up until the 1930s, which hood was shaped with baleen. According to a case study from the International Whaling Commission, the conversion of a whaling industry to a whale watching industry in the Azores is a prime example of how cetaceans can offer value to a community in a sustainable way, and the AzoreanHood celebrates this success. The ‘capote e capelo’ was an inherited garment, passing on from generation to generation, and the AzoreanHood was also designed to last. 'Azoreanhood' (in Portuguese ‘Açorianidade’) is a term created by Vitorino Nemésio, an Azorean writer, in 1932, which expresses the historical, geographical, social and human condition of being Azorean. 'Azorean hood' is how the traditional garment ‘capote e capelo’ is referred to, in English. 'AzoreanHood' is the name of Begs & Bags modular fashion item. It is composed by 3 detachable pieces which can easily be altered to suit changing needs: 1 bag + 1 cape + 1 hood. The cape fits in the bag main compartment, and the hood attached to the bag, to have rain protection at hand for whenever needed.
Key objectives for sustainability
The AzoreanHood is made with SEAQUAL® YARN containing Upcycled Marine Plastic. In collaboration with NGOs, fishermen and local communities, the SEAQUAL INITIATIVE is helping to clean our oceans of marine litter. Begs & Bags is a proud member of the SEAQUAL INITIATIVE. The books Begs & Friends, which story gives the design credits of the AzoreanHood to a sperm whale named Begs, tell stories about the Ocean and the threats caused by human activities to marine life, while advocating for Ocean conservation. Through design and storytelling this project communicates sustainability.
Key objectives for aesthetics and quality
The AzoreanHood celebrates the conversion of a whaling industry to a whale watching industry in the Azores, which according to the International Whaling Commission is a prime example of how cetaceans can offer value to a community in a sustainable way. It celebrates an old custom of passing garments through generations, a sustainable behaviour which contrasts with the relation we have today with fashion. It demonstrates we can improve the way we do things, while learning and maintaining a connection with our history and culture.
Key objectives for inclusion
The AzoreanHood is handmade in Terceira island, Azores. We are proud to work with the atelier Etis which is a solidarity economy project from a private institution of social solidarity. The Santa Casa da Misericórdia da Praia da Vitória's project “Etis – Solidarity Economy Center” was implemented in January 2000 to continue the work of “Seeds of Change” Fight Against Poverty project. The “Etis – Solidarity Economy Center” has as main goal to enhance the possibilities of employment and social integration of the people included in the project: increasing their socio-professional skills, their personal development and encouraging their participation to solve their problems, that is, to develop relational, cognitive and organizational skills in order to achieve social change.
Results in relation to category
The Azores is one of the 4 Portuguese regions belonging to the category of less developed regions (i.e. GDP per head < 75 % of EU-27 average). It is difficult to balance the traditional production processes, local living conditions and protection of the environment and ecosystems with the need to boost the local economy in order to compete in a globalised world. Through this project we create jobs in the region, restore pride by celebrating local successes and traditions, and shape the future by promoting the preservation of our natural heritage.
How Citizens benefit
The AzoreanHood is handmade in Terceira island, Azores. We are proud to work with the atelier Etis which is a solidarity economy project from a private institution of social solidarity. The Santa Casa da Misericórdia da Praia da Vitória's project “Etis – Solidarity Economy Center” was implemented in January 2000 to continue the work of “Seeds of Change” Fight Against Poverty project. The “Etis – Solidarity Economy Center” has as main goal to enhance the possibilities of employment and social integration of the people included in the project: increasing their socio-professional skills, their personal development and encouraging their participation to solve their problems, that is, to develop relational, cognitive and organizational skills in order to achieve social change.
Physical or other transformations
Innovative character
Through the AzoreanHood we demonstrate it is possible to design innovative fashion, celebrating culture and in a circularity and solidarity economy model. The AzoreanHood design is innovative and unique while helps to clean the Ocean from plastic pollution.
Learning transferred to other parties
We hope to inspire other designers to look at their cultural heritage and retrieve sustainable behaviours and traditions which will contribute to shape a new way of living.
