Wednesday 4 November 2020

2020 marks Scarf's 10th birthday and we wanted to create something really special to mark this momentous occasion. So a few months back we reached out to talented Melbourne-based artist Olana Janfa to see if he'd be interested in creating a painting to celebrate 10 years of Scarf. He said yes! 

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The range of Olana x Scarf merchandise includes face masks and tote bags - all made locally. 

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Showcasing Janfa’s lively ode to Scarf’s spirit of hospitality and diverse cohort of trainees, we've created a series of Scarf x Olana limited edition pieces which will be available from our online shop from Thursday 5 November. Ethiopian-born Olana's joy-filled characters appear on face masks, puzzles and tote bags, and everything has been made in Victoria. Scarf Co-founder and CEO Hannah Brennan said: 

This year marks a really significant milestone for Scarf and it’s something that we’re very incredibly proud of. To celebrate 10 years of Scarf, we wanted to create something extra-special, especially after being unable to run Scarf Dinners this year due to Covid closures. Olana has such a distinct style and has been a big supporter of our organisation, so we felt that he was the perfect artist to work with.

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Olana Janfa and Hannah Brennan with Olana's original painting, which will be auctioned in future to help fund Scarf programs.
Update 30/03/24: For the opportunity to bid on this artwork, join us at Do More Than Dine '24.   

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Olana, a rising star who this year partnered with fashion label Obus for a collaboration that was recently short-listed for The Design Files’ 2020 TDF + Laminex Design Awards, says he is proud to work with us. Here's what Olana has to say about the collaboration with Scarf:

Since being invited along to my first Scarf Dinner three years ago and speaking to many trainees, I have seen to positive impact that Scarf has on young people. As someone who has lived through the refugee experience myself, I know the value of being supported and welcomed so that you can grow your confidence and participate fully in the world that surrounds you. Scarf does this so well.

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The limited edition merchandise range includes a very fun 500 piece puzzle featuring Olana's bold painting. 

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All proceeds from the sale of Scarf X Olana merchandise will go directly to funding future Scarf programs, allowing us to continue providing hands-on training and mentoring to young people seeking protection and those from refugee and migrant backgrounds facing barriers to employment. We will continue to proudly pay award wages to trainees for the work experience trainees undertake during Scarf Dinners and other events. 

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Special thanks to Scarf Ambassador Leanne Clancey for helping us get this project off the ground!

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Update 30/03/24: For the opportunity to bid on this artwork, join us at Do More Than Dine '24.   

 

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Olana + artwork photoshoot: Peter Tarasiuk

Merch close-ups: Roger Ungers