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时间:2021-12-28 03:12:06

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(单词翻译)

Roma Designers in Hungary Build Fashion Line and Awareness1

A fashion company in Hungary wants to challenge centuries-old ideas about the country's Roma minority. Another goal of the company, Romani Design, is to make a place in the world of high fashion for this historically marginalized group.

In 2010 when Erika and Helena Varga established Romani Design, they were clear about their goals. They want to use fashion and other arts to build social and cultural standing2 of the Roma community. They also want to re-establish Roma culture in modern terms.

The two sisters spoke3 with the Associated Press in Hungary.

"We were one of the first brands that actually gave the answer to how to rebuild (Roma) traditions in a contemporary, modern way," said Erika Varga, co-founder of Romani Design.

The Roma are Hungary's largest minority. They represent as much as 10 percent of the population in the Central European country. Like other Roma throughout Europe, Hungary's Roma often do not have the same social and economic opportunities as others. They also face discrimination, segregation4, and poverty.

Present in Hungary since the 15th century, many Roma traditions run deep in the larger Hungarian culture. Yet many of their customs, occupations, and language have been slowly dying due to centuries of official and unofficial marginalization.

Before starting Romani Design, the Varga sisters worked as jewelry5 makers6 and designers. But they said they still did not feel accepted into the larger society. Their work was not being accepted in the world of high culture. They also worried that valuable Roma traditions were being lost.

Erika Varga said they want the social majority to get used to Roma as being part of the community and part of high culture. She said this was important because those of high social ranking in Hungary often decide, in her words, "who is valuable and what position they can occupy in the social" structure.

Erika added: "We also wanted to communicate messages to our own community that we don't have to give up our traditional values."

Romani Design creates clothing, jewelry, and accessories that show Roma culture in a modern way. They use many flowers and colors. And images of the Virgin7 Mary are common in traditional Roma clothing and old stories.

Helena Varga oversees8 the design of their products. She said many of the dresses and accessories -- like jewelry, bags, and belts – show their lived experiences growing up Roma in Hungary.

"When I design, I absolutely live my own Gypsy identity, and my roots are absolutely here in my heart and soul," she said.

The term "Gypsy" for the Roma is seen as an insult in some places. However, it is commonly used by Roma in Hungary as well as Roma living in other places.

"I've seen how (Roma communities) live, what they wear, what kinds of houses they live in..." Helena thinks of these memories and experiences when she designs something.

Some human rights groups in Hungary push for the acceptance of Roma music and dance. However, the Varga sisters say that fashion is one of the most powerful means of changing the relationship between their culture and the rest of society.

"Fashion -- the way we dress, the clothes we wear on our bodies -- can send a message so fast and so intense that it reaches its target audience very, very quickly," Helena said. "It's very effective."

Most of the people who buy from Romani Designs are "people who want more from fashion," Erika said. She explained they want to "represent values that are important in their personal lives and communities, such as the values of multiculturalism9."

Six dresses by Romani Design are on display at an exhibition in the Museum of Applied10 Arts in Hungary's capital, Budapest. After being displayed, the new contemporary works will become part of the museum's permanent collection. This will secure their place for others to see and consider for generations to come.

Judit Horvath is the head of the museum's contemporary design department. She says it is the mission of the museum to give shape and form to social problems. The Romani Design's appearance in the exhibition, she said, has done so successfully.

Horvath said that in the exhibit the social problems that the museum wants to show are clear. "What is this problem? The conflict, fear, discord11 and anger that often exists between Roma and non-Roma communities," she said, "...things that we wish were not there."

Words in This Story

challenge - v. to say or show that (something) may not be true, correct, or legal

marginalize – v. to put or keep (someone) in a powerless or unimportant position within a society or group

brand – n. a category of products that are all made by a particular company and all have a particular name

contemporary – adj. living or occurring at the same period of time

segregation – n. the practice or policy of separating a race, class, or group from the rest of society

accessory – n. an object or device not necessary in itself but adding to the beauty or usefulness of something else

exhibition – n. an event at which objects (such as works of art) are put out in a public space for people to look at : a public show of something


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点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 awareness 4yWzdW     
n.意识,觉悟,懂事,明智
参考例句:
  • There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。
  • Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。
2 standing 2hCzgo     
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的
参考例句:
  • After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
  • They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。
3 spoke XryyC     
n.(车轮的)辐条;轮辐;破坏某人的计划;阻挠某人的行动 v.讲,谈(speak的过去式);说;演说;从某种观点来说
参考例句:
  • They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
  • The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。
4 segregation SESys     
n.隔离,种族隔离
参考例句:
  • Many school boards found segregation a hot potato in the early 1960s.在60年代初,许多学校部门都觉得按水平分班是一个棘手的问题。
  • They were tired to death of segregation and of being kicked around.他们十分厌恶种族隔离和总是被人踢来踢去。
5 jewelry 0auz1     
n.(jewllery)(总称)珠宝
参考例句:
  • The burglars walked off with all my jewelry.夜盗偷走了我的全部珠宝。
  • Jewelry and lace are mostly feminine belongings.珠宝和花边多数是女性用品。
6 makers 22a4efff03ac42c1785d09a48313d352     
n.制造者,制造商(maker的复数形式)
参考例句:
  • The makers of the product assured us that there had been no sacrifice of quality. 这一产品的制造商向我们保证说他们没有牺牲质量。
  • The makers are about to launch out a new product. 制造商们马上要生产一种新产品。 来自《简明英汉词典》
7 virgin phPwj     
n.处女,未婚女子;adj.未经使用的;未经开发的
参考例句:
  • Have you ever been to a virgin forest?你去过原始森林吗?
  • There are vast expanses of virgin land in the remote regions.在边远地区有大片大片未开垦的土地。
8 oversees 4607550c43b2b83434e5e72ac137def4     
v.监督,监视( oversee的第三人称单数 )
参考例句:
  • She oversees both the research and the manufacturing departments. 她既监督研究部门又监督生产部门。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The Department of Education oversees the federal programs dealing with education. 教育部监管处理教育的联邦程序。 来自互联网
9 multiculturalism 0de8ae6addb85e6d8780aa3c4c65e58b     
n.多元文化
参考例句:
  • Switzerland is well known for cheese fondue, penguin parades and its multiculturalism. 瑞士一向以芝士火锅,企鹅游行和多元文化等特色闻名于世。
  • That may be one reason why multiculturalism came easily to it. 这也是多元文化容易适应发展的原因之一。
10 applied Tz2zXA     
adj.应用的;v.应用,适用
参考例句:
  • She plans to take a course in applied linguistics.她打算学习应用语言学课程。
  • This cream is best applied to the face at night.这种乳霜最好晚上擦脸用。
11 discord iPmzl     
n.不和,意见不合,争论,(音乐)不和谐
参考例句:
  • These two answers are in discord.这两个答案不一样。
  • The discord of his music was hard on the ear.他演奏的不和谐音很刺耳。

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