MORE THAN SKIN DEEP

Salama Mohamed, Founder and CEO of Peacefull, launched her brand two years ago on a mission to give residents of the Middle East skincare products tailored to their climate. She’s since done that and much more, recently giving refugee women a means by which to earn income and find hope

- CLAUDINE COLETTI

On the evening of June 20, 2023—World Refugee Day—Salama Mohamed, Founder of skincare brand Peacefull, was on stage in Abu Dhabi introducing a very special limited-edition line to the market. In partnership with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNCHR) and its MADE51 initiative, Mohamed launched 1,400 t-shirt towels onto Peacefull’s range, each one made from 60% recycled plastic and hand-dyed by artisan refugee women in Nairobi, Kenya. The refugees were paid for their work, and a percentage of profits from sales will go back to them to help them in their lives. At the same time, the Emirati entrepreneur released a documentary at a special screening following the brand’s experience in Kenya and documenting the creation of the t-shirt towels. “She And Her Dignity” is available to view on Mohamed’s official YouTube channel.

“Livelihood opportunities, such as UNHCR’s MADE51 initiative, equip displaced refugee communities to become increasingly self-reliant and support their capacity to participate in incomegenerating activities,” explains Mohamed. “We saw a space where we could restore dignity to women. Women do not want handouts; they don’t want to be labeled refugees. They want to work, they want to stand on their own two feet, and they want to support their families.” By June 21, two of the six styles of t-shirt towels available to buy on the Peacefull website had sold out, and it had already placed an order for more.