AOP GOLD! “Syrian Style” by Tina Hillier

Many Syrians who fled the war have spent the last 7 years living in refugee camps.  Over time the biggest camps have become settlements with shops, markets and schools.  The women in this series emphasise the importance of retaining a sense of identity and personal pride through individual style and dress. Despite the traumas they have suffered and the difficult uncertain futures they face, they stressed how important clothes were in their lives. It’s something personal that they have control over and that brings them together.  As Sahar said ‘How I dress is very important, it shows my strength.’

The series received a gold award at the 2019 Association of Photography Awards.

Commissioned by the Saturday Telegraph Magazine & Oxfam, published March 2019.