All posts tagged: Charlie Hebdo

Elle’s touching tribute

When I was 21 years old I worked for Elle South Africa. I always knew I wanted to work for a magazine and from a young age I’ve had an interest in fashion so it was serendipitous that I was first hired as the magazine’s designer. I loved working for ELLE, I had amazing role models in women who were (and still are) intelligent, hard working, passionate and not only thought fashion was fabulous but that it was important to publish thought provoking articles on the world around us. It makes me extra proud that when I picked up the French edition of this week’s ELLE I can say that I was once part of this family. Their beautifully illustrated cover, by well-known Soledad, that conveys the sentiment of what we all want – peace. The magazine has run 13 pages on last week’s killings in a very profound and sensitive way. They list the names of all the people who were killed, commissioned young cartoonists to draw, published opinion pieces and articles from well-known actors and writers as well as quotes …

Liberté d’expression – a sad day for Paris.

Freedom of speech. Liberté d’expression. I have taken this for granted. In the aftermath of the shooting at Charlie Hebdo in the 11th arrondissement in Paris yesterday morning it has left every person I speak to in shock. The turn out in support last night at Place de la Republic was amazing and I’m very proud to call Paris my adopted home. As a South African I am sensitive to how the freedom of our fellow patriots can be taken away, we have a long, sad and well documented history that we have overcome where freedom of speech is respected and each person has a right to their opinion and to be heard. ‘The pen is mightier than the sword’ and as I write this blog I am able to have opinions and express myself freely – this can never be taken away from us or our children. My thoughts are with the families of Charlie Hebdo – this could have happened in any media room I have worked in and to any journalist I know. A sad day …