Gaza tailor sews dresses for girls from war-damaged fabric

KHAN YUNIS, Gaza — A 24-year-old tailor in Khan Yunis, in southern Gaza, is designing dresses for girls and women by repurposing fabric damaged in the war, burned remnants and old clothing. Amir al-Rantisi told AFP that he collects the material from a destroyed area of Gaza City and from pieces damaged by shrapnel or fire. He said he sorts the pieces he gathers and uses them to design new garments, while also recycling old dresses. Outside his shop, colorful dresses made of satin, organza and tulle are displayed on makeshift mannequins fashioned from iron rods. The display stands out against the surrounding gray concrete and burned-out buildings, offering a burst of color in the heavily damaged area. Al-Rantisi's work has made his creations part of special occasions for young girls in Khan Yunis, where the war has left few spaces for such moments. No further details about his workshop or the number of orders he receives were immediately available.