Buy a t-shirt and help your country and your people–that’s the idea behind Ahsan Nass. The community service group began the initiative 18 days ago, producing around 1400 t-shirts bearing creative designs, the proceeds from which will go to charity.
“Ahsan Nass will continue, but as a community service company. T-shirt production, meanwhile, will fall under the umbrella of this company, but with another name,” says Ahsan Nass founder Ahmed Eid.
Eid was also the founder of Funk Superstar, a well-known local t-shirt brand. "The point was to help those in need outside Tahrir Square–the injured and those who lost their jobs,” says the young designer.
The logos and t-shirt designs are pro-Egypt and pro-Egyptians, but not necessarily pro-revolution.
The t-shirt idea first originated because of Eid's considerable experience in the field of fashion and because the production process, it is hoped, would help create jobs for many of those laid off as a result of the recent uprising.
“T-shirts are sold for LE50 each and all the money is donated to the People Development Foundation, Ashanek Ya Masr Foundation ['For you, Egypt'], and to individual cases of people in need," explains Eid.
Sales and distribution teams, meanwhile, are composed entirely volunteers. “T-shirts are sold in Abu Ouf Nuts in Heliopolis, Al-Koshk in Maadi and Zafir in Zamalek,” says Eid. The product line, he adds, will eventually expand to include pins, stickers, mugs, caps and key chains, all with the same patriotic theme.
The product line will also expand to include fitted tops for ladies and t-shirts with logos related to the ongoing Libyan revolution. “As the community service company expands, the t-shirt project will become more commercial so as to bring more capital into the organization," says Eid.
As some of us went down to protest in Tahrir Square, others were thinking of alternative ways to help their country. Ahsan Nass represents a perfect blend of patriotism, solidarity and creativity. God bless Egypt's young people.
