ERIACNET4EU | ‘Loly – Wearing Our Story’: Young Roma Turn Heritage into Fashion
In Mureș County, Romania, 30 young Roma are reimagining fashion as a medium for self representation, cultural expression and social engagement. Developed by the Roma Collective Art & Culture Association, Loly – Wearing Our Story places young Roma voices at the centre of a creative process in which clothing becomes a means of articulating identity and belonging, and reinterpreting cultural heritage through contemporary design.
Under the mentorship of Roma designer Zita Moldovan, teenagers from the “Nicolae Gheorghe” Secondary School in Apalina, Reghin, and Tonciu School are exploring the relationship between dress, identity and lived experience. Drawing on Romani cultural heritage, personal histories and the realities of contemporary Roma life, they are developing original designs that reflect their own perspectives on what it means to be Roma today.
Following an initial workshop in Apalina in July 2026, the participants reconvened in August for a series of practical workshops, discussions and creative exercises. Guided by Moldovan, they engaged creatively with cultural symbols, family and community histories, and personal narratives, considering how these layers of experience might be translated into the visual language of contemporary fashion.
In sessions led by Cezara David of S.A.F.E. Narratives, participants explored digital safety, online risks and responsible technology use. These activities complement the creative programme by equipping young people with the knowledge and confidence to navigate digital spaces more critically and safely.
The resulting Loly – Wearing Our Story collection will be presented at a fashion show on 13 November 2026 at the Reghin House of Culture. The presentation is part of an event dedicated to Roma sociologist Nicolae Gheorghe, organised by the school in Apalina that bears his name.
Loly – Wearing Our Story is developed through the ERIACNET4EU initiative, funded by the European Union’s Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) Programme. ERIACNET4EU supports projects that mobilise culture as a tool for memory, social engagement, and the promotion of EU rights and values, while challenging negative narratives about Roma people and strengthening self-esteem within Roma communities.
The initiative supports member organisations of the European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture (ERIAC) based in the EU, enabling them to develop cultural and educational activities in areas including arts, history, media, research, advocacy, cultural diplomacy and intercultural exchange.