Social - The Project Justine

Anyone who lives in southern Germany knows the question: What should I wear to traditional weddings and folk festivals? Not all women feel comfortable in a classic dirndl. It doesn't suit their personality, their self-image - they feel like they're in costume.

The two founders of NOH NEE, Marie Darouich and Rahmée Wetterich, also know this uneasy feeling. Having grown up in Cameroon and having lived in Germany for many years, they were always looking for a dirndl that, while showing respect for their hosts, also reflected their own identity. With their signature piece, the Dirndl à l'Africaine, they have not only created a dress for themselves that they can wear with confidence and pride, but also for women from Bavaria and all over the world.

By combining classic Bavarian dirndl cuts and fabrics from Africa, two cultures form a connection that is universally understood because it is based on appreciation, openness, exchange and the desire to develop.

NOH NEE creates all other items of clothing according to the same principles and has been promoting a training and vocational center in the north of Benin, West Africa, since 2016 through the association THE PROJECT JUSTINE - train the trainer, which it founded specifically for this purpose. There, young women and men not only produce NOH NEE's collections, but also learn the tailoring trade from scratch as part of a three-year dual training program and grow into trainers. The commitment is bearing fruit. The first students have been trained, are passing on their knowledge to the next generation and are being sought after by neighboring countries due to their expertise.

More about our work in Benin and other West African countries: www.theprojectjustine.org