An Indigenous Story From the Levant
Championing Human Rights and Environmental Advocacy through Slow Factory
Celine Semaan is a creative activist and advocate known for her impactful contributions to human rights and environmental sustainability through her organization, Slow Factory. With a deep commitment to justice and equality, Celine has emerged as a leading figure in the fight for social change, leveraging her platform to address pressing global issues and inspire meaningful action.
Born in Lebanon and raised in Canada, Celine Semaan's multicultural background provided her with a unique perspective on the complexities of identity, social justice, and environmental stewardship. Her early experiences witnessing the impact of conflict and displacement fueled her passion for advocacy and inspired her to dedicate her life to making a difference. With a background in graphic design and science, Semaan combines creativity with activism to address systemic issues and promote positive change.
Slow Factory
In 2012, Celine Semaan founded Slow Factory, an innovative organization that seeks to merge fashion, activism, and education to drive sustainable and equitable solutions. Slow Factory operates at the intersection of social justice and environmentalism, focusing on the interconnectedness of these issues and the importance of holistic approaches to change. Through workshops, campaigns, and collaborations, Slow Factory empowers individuals and communities to become agents of change and advocates for a more just and sustainable world.
Slow Factory has gained recognition for its pioneering initiatives that challenge conventional practices and promote sustainability within the fashion industry and beyond. The organization advocates for transparency, ethical production, and the reduction of waste and pollution, highlighting the urgent need for systemic change in the way products are made and consumed.
One of Slow Factory's notable projects is the "Open Education" initiative, which offers free and accessible educational resources on topics such as climate justice, human rights, and sustainable practices. By democratizing knowledge and fostering dialogue, Slow Factory empowers individuals to make informed decisions and take meaningful action in their communities.
Celine's work with Slow Factory extends beyond fashion to address broader issues of social justice and environmental advocacy. Through collaborations with artists, activists, and organizations, she has successfully amplified the voices of marginalized communities and raised awareness about the urgent need for intersectional approaches to activism.
A Woman is a School: A New Chapter in Storytelling
With the current state of the world, finally there is a curiosity and interest for authentic Arab narratives, so the announcement of Celine’s debut memoir and cultural anthropological work couldn’t have arrived at a more pivotal moment. Titled A Woman is a School, her book is shared through the lens of a war survivor and child refugee. Spanning stories from Lebanon between 1948 and 2023, Semaan revives the age-old tradition of the hakawati (a fusion of two Arabic words: hekaye means “the story” and haki means “to talk”), the Levantine storytellers who have preserved Indigenous wisdom and heritage through generations. As a modern hakawati, Semaan captures the essence of her own life and the lives of her family, sharing her upbringing and the resilient cultures that shaped her. This memoir is not only a personal account but also a cultural anthropological exploration, documenting the endangered and often discredited ancestral knowledge of the Global South. Through her narrative, Semaan provides readers with an intimate look at the resilience and strength of her people, offering a voice to those who have been marginalized and silenced.
Despite the challenges inherent in advocacy work, Celine Semaan remains resilient and unwavering in her pursuit of a more equitable and sustainable world. She understands that progress requires persistence and collaboration and continues to push boundaries and challenge systemic injustices with unwavering determination. Her innovative approaches and unwavering commitment to justice and sustainability have inspired a new generation of activists and changemakers.
My background is in cyber arts and system design. Between 2000 and 2008, I was working on digital literacy and access to the internet in the Middle East with groups like Creative Commons. I was very much interested in making information—whether that’s resources the government has or climate injustices—accessible for other people. How can we translate these concepts for the general public so that they can understand what's going on and take action?
Looking ahead, Semaan envisions a world where human rights are universally respected, and environmental stewardship is prioritized. She is dedicated to working tirelessly towards this vision, continuing to drive meaningful change and inspire collective action.
Her book will be available on major platforms such as Amazon and a host of independent bookstores worldwide on September 9th. Pre-orders can be placed now through Slow Factory Press.
