Céline Semaan Vernon

Céline Semaan-Vernon is a Lebanese-Canadian designer, writer, advocate, teacher, activist, and public speaker. She is the founder of Slow Factory Foundation, a 501c3 public service organization working at the intersection of environmental and social justice.[1] She is on the Council of Progressive International,[2] became a Director's Fellow of MIT Media Lab in 2016,[3] and served on the Board of Directors of AIGA NY, a nonprofit membership organization that helps cultivate the future of design in New York City from 2016-2017.[4]

Céline Semaan-Vernon
Born
Céline Semaan

1982 (age 38–39)
Beirut, Lebanon
NationalityCanadian, Lebanese
OccupationFashion designer and writer
Known forFashion activism
MIT Media Lab Director’s Fellow
United Nations
Websitehttps://celinecelines.com/

Biography

Vernon was born in Beirut. Her family were refugees in Montreal where she was raised.[5] S

Celine is married to Colin Vernon.[6] they have two children.

Career

Semaan began her career as a designer and community organizer; she worked as a user-experience designer for HUGE Inc., General Assembly, and Condé Nast.[7] Semaan works in the open knowledge and access to information movement, working with Creative Commons to bring the open licensing to Montreal, Lebanon and Qatar. Founding Slow Factory in 2012 while living in Montreal quickly brought her to New York in 2013 to continue to expand the intersection of environmental sustainability, social good and fashion. Early Slow Factory collections paired design with social[8] or environmental[9][10] causes, leading her to coin the Slow Factory catch-phrase “Good for the Earth, Good for the People” in order to capture the essential idea that social and environmental justice are inextricably linked. This is a fundamental concept that she has continued to espouse, writing extensively about the link between environmental sustainability and structures of racism and colonialism.[11] Vernon’s collections have benefited organizations including World Wildlife Fund, UNICEF, and ANERA.[7]

As an artist and designer her work has been featured in the Museum of Modern Art and Cooper Hewitt[12] in New York, the de Young Museum in San Francisco.

Semaan is a recognized expert in the space of environmental and social justice.[13] She coined the term fashion activism, and has also worked extensively to raise awareness of other issues and causes around social and environmental justice by broadening her platform, such as bringing the word ”decolonize” to the pages of popular fashion magazines[14] or opening her influential Study Hall conference with not only a Native American Land Acknowledgement[15] but also a Labor Acknowledgement to recognize the history of forced African American labor.[16]

She is known for her activism in social justice causes especially around refugees,[17] cultural appropriation,[18][19] and Arab identity,[20] her advocacy for sustainable practices in fashion,[21] and her work as a digital and product designer.

References
  1. Farra, Emily. ""Fashion Creates Culture, and Culture Creates Action": Céline Semaan on the Industry's Role in Times of Crisis". Vogue. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  2. "Progressive International Council".
  3. "Celine Semaan: MIT Media Lab".
  4. "Beyond Vivienne Westwood: When Designers Become Activists". www.vice.com. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  5. Vernon, Céline Semaan. "My Journey From Middle East Refugee To Fashion Designer". www.refinery29.com. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  6. "How Céline Semaan and Colin Vernon Met". Man Repeller (Interview). Interviewed by Amelia Diamond. 3 April 2018. Retrieved 2019-05-06.
  7. "Person Overview ‹ Celine Semaan Vernon". MIT Media Lab. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  8. "The Refugee Who Uses Fashion As A Medium To Raise Awareness Of Human Rights".
  9. "Slow Factory, World Wildlife Fund Team for Sustainable Scarves".
  10. "Wrapped in the World".
  11. "Understanding Sustainability Means Talking About Colonialism".
  12. "Contemporary Muslim Fashions Virtual tour".
  13. ""Fashion Creates Culture, and Culture Creates Action": Céline Semaan on the Industry's Role in Times of Crisis".
  14. "Mona Haydar Wants to Decolonize Your Brain".
  15. "Land Acknowledgement - Study Hall New York Times".
  16. "Labor Acknowledgement In Advance Of Black History Month - Study Hall New York Times".
  17. Nast, Condé. "See How These 8 Refugees are Following Their Passion for Beauty". Teen Vogue. Retrieved 2019-05-06.
  18. Semaan, Celine (2018-03-09). "A Fashion Designer and an Activist Talk Cultural Appropriation". The Cut. Retrieved 2019-05-06.
  19. Semaan, Celine (Spring 2019). "Fashion Revolution Fanzine 04". Fashion Revolution Fanzine. 04: 10–14.
  20. Semaan, Celine (2018-03-06). "We Need More Positive Images of Arab Women". The Cut. Retrieved 2019-05-06.
  21. "The New Plastics Economy May Be A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing". MOCHNI. 2018-11-16. Retrieved 2019-05-06.
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