As part of a project that was started by artist Ermira Murati to raise awareness among women in Kosovo, women line up at a stall in Pristina on a sunny October day to donate bras that will be turned into bags and sold to raise money for those who have breast cancer.
Murati is collecting bras for the fourth year in a row in October, which is world breast cancer awareness month. This is part of a campaign called “Shliroj Cicat” (Free the boobs), whose logo features a breast that looks like a cartoon. This has drawn criticism in Kosovo’s patriarchal society.
Notwithstanding the analysis from some in 90% Muslim Kosovo, Shkurte Kafexholli was glad to give a bra.
She stated, “We are here to support “Shliroj Cicat.”
The bags, which come in a variety of colors and sizes, are then displayed on social media. Murati buys mastectomy bras, which look like regular bras but have pockets inside to hold breast prostheses in place, or other supplements that women might need, with the money she makes from selling them.
Murati advised, “You can wear your bra as a bag.” Because of this, you can use them in a different way that has even more significance.
Figures from the Kosovo health ministry indicate that there will be approximately 547 new cases of breast cancer in Kosovo in 2022.
In Kosovo, Murati is well-known for her provocative writing. She says, “What I am doing is very provocative,” as she makes bags in a basement studio near Pristina’s main mosque. For a lot of people, it is not very comforting.”
