by Yasmin Akbay

DAZZLE is an independent, self-directed and supported activist project, in advocacy for women’s safe-spaces in skateboarding. I have designed and hand-silk screen printed “DAZZLE” merchandise (portfolio featured below), alongside 3D mini DAZZLE skateboards (also part of my Skater Girl Series), sticker packs and promotional photography.

Through the lens and use of art and design, my vision with DAZZLE is to promote, protect and diversify the girl’s skateboarding scene, both locally and beyond.

My goal is to create safer and more welcoming spaces for women and other minority groups, to not only feel comfortable participating in skateboarding, but to thrive whilst doing it.

Hand silk screen printed MERCHANDISE T-shirts

The camouflage design is inspired by British DPM camo and hand-illustrated onto acetate before emulsifying it onto my screens in four different layers.

My pink and green “Dazzle” star camo T-shirts (inspired by the concept of Dazzle camouflage, used in battleships in WW1, as a way of warding off enemies by confusing them rather than concealing them), were printed using 8 different layers and a blockout stencil technique.

This collection of T-shirts symbolises the message I am advocating with DAZZLE: confuse, not conceal. For the camouflage is an ironic comment on the perceived need for women and other minority groups to shrink themselves to belong, especially in the world of skateboarding. The pink camo and stars design is an ironic take on the standard usage of camouflage, due to the way in which skateboarding is a predominantly urban-based activity, where camouflage would have the opposite of its intended effect. This is a statement of how it feels to be a female skateboarder, or just a woman in society generally; that no matter how hard you try to “blend in”, somehow, you always feel like you stand out.