Jawaher Al Qasimi’s jacket fetches AED440,000

Sharjah / WAM

The personal jacket of HH Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, wife of HH the Ruler of Sharjah, Chairperson of NAMA Women Advancement Establishment, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Eminent Advocate for Refugee Children, has fetched 100,000 Pounds Sterling (AED 440,000), at an auction. The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) bought the jacket.
The purchase follows Sheikha Jawaher’s donation of the jacket to the ‘Jeans for Refugees’ (JFR) charity initiative dedicated to refugees worldwide. The garment was sold at the auction that followed the JFR exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery in London from October 24-30.
JFR was launched by Johnny Dar, an internationally acclaimed fashion designer and artist, as a global artistic collaboration dedicated to helping refugees around the world. The essence of the initiative was to empower people to collaborate for a common goal and to create a brighter world through the involvement of popular celebrities from the worlds of cinema, art, fashion and music. The activity received an impressive response from officials, celebrities and media across the world.
Sheikha Jawaher’s jacket, which she wore during her visit to Zaatari Refugee Camp in Jordan in 2014, raised the highest sum of money for a single item at the auction, which also saw bids for the 100 pairs of jeans donated by world celebrities in support of the initiative.
“Conflict and strife across the world has encouraged people to launch humanitarian initiatives that support communities affected by them and help them overcome the obstacles and challenges that threaten their lives, such as forced displacement. One global humanitarian initiative is Jeans for Refugees, whose organisers have sought to rally support for displaced persons through art. We highly appreciate and support this initiative, which will have a positive impact on the lives of thousands of refugees in different parts of the world,” said Sheikha Jawaher.
Sheikha Jawaher thanked SCCI for its humanitarian gesture of donating money by purchasing her jacket in aid of refugees, as well as its major contribution in making the auction a success. She said the proceeds from the auction will help support the International Rescue Committee’s endeavours to improve the lives and preserve the dignity of thousands of young girls and women living in refugee camps. All proceeds from the auctioned garments will go to the International Rescue Committee in support of the National Emergency Response Programme and Women’s Development programmes.