A British Designer Builds a Fashion Brand from Cambodia’s War Remnants, Such as Bomb and Mine Casings…
During a trip to Cambodia, Cassandra Postema met an artisan who made jewelry by hand from bomb casings left over from the country's war. “It struck me that it would be wonderful to create something beautiful from something ugly. It feels as though this helps soothe the pain of the past,” she shared.
Eight months after the trip, the British designer turned the idea into a fashion brand called Emi&Eve. Its products recycle remnants of war in Cambodia, including copper, mines, and bomb or mine casings. Postema and her colleagues transform them into entirely new works of art.
The project’s founder studied Fashion at St. Martins in London. She also has many years of fashion experience, having worked throughout the UK and Asia. Postema has always dreamed of exploring other possibilities for her career.
She always seeks to do something meaningful as a fashion designer, such as recycling or working with people who truly long for employment. ‘I am passionate about good design, which to me means sustainable products. I seek a combination of sustainability, economic strength, design, branding, and powerful communication,’ she shared.
The message Postema wants to convey through Emi&Eve is optimism and hope: there are always good things to be found in even the darkest period of a person's life. Through her designs, she inspires meaningful change for everyone.
“I have seen my customers incorporate their own stories into our jewelry. More importantly, we have created jobs for many Cambodians. The country is still recovering from war, and young people have limited employment options,” she shared.
Emi&Eve not only hires workers in Cambodia and works closely with artists and coordinators, but also shares an office with a local charity. Postema co-founded this organization to help the community combat HIV.
Through Emi&Eve's designs, the British designer also expresses appreciation for handicrafts, a cultural tradition of the Khmer people.
The company has received positive community feedback. Postema remembers a Japanese customer who bought a bracelet. ‘She said she could connect with someone through a bomb casing from Cambodian soil. She was not alone; someone still needed her, even though she had never known that person existed. Customers find their own meanings in our collections,’ she said.
The project received more than USD 100,000 through its crowdfunding campaign. Moreover, Postema believes one of the best things about this fashion-recycling journey has been the people she has met. “The close connections with everyone I work with in Cambodia have given me new families,” she says.
The British designer believes the future will bring more products whose value goes beyond conventional boundaries. This is entirely possible as more people travel, venture into the world and seek meaning in life.
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