The word 'souvenir' can be traced back to the Old French word for 'memory', or even further back to the Latin 'subvenire', which means 'come to mind'. This etymology captures the importance of a souvenir. It isn’t just a keychain or a little gift you pick up at the airport on your way home from a trip; it holds memories. Souvenirs are the physical representations of where we’ve been, bringing our experiences and histories to mind every time we glance their way.
MOTHERLAND is a souvenir shop unlike any other. Founded by married couple Sarah and Nabil Zaida, the store captures the Pakistani diasporic experience, keeping Pakistanis abroad connected to their roots through its merchandise. Both Sarah and Nabil are second-generation immigrants, born and raised in America. After having their first child, they feared their future generations’ connection to their home country of Pakistan would fade over time. Sarah and Nabil founded MOTHERLAND to keep their heritage alive, not just within their family, but for everyone in the diaspora.
MOTHERLAND sells new apparel and vintage Pakistani artefacts. Their clothing takes pieces of Pakistani history and pop culture and incorporates them into Western streetwear. The “Diana Pakistani Memorial” Classic Tee, for example, is an homage to Princess Diana’s requited love for Pakistan, as seen by her several visits and charitable efforts in the country. Another piece, the 'Lahore Country Club Tee', is a playful reinterpretation of vintage merchandise from the historic Royal Palm Country Club in Lahore. Rather than recreating traditional Pakistani clothing, MOTHERLAND reinterprets Pakistani iconography to memorialise their cultural stories. The souvenir shop also sells accessories, stickers, bags, skate decks, and one-of-a-kind novelties like rare vinyls from some of Pakistan’s greatest musicians.
MOTHERLAND’s new knit jerseys pay tribute to the 1992 and 2003 Cricket World Cups. The 1992 Jersey celebrates Pakistan’s cricket championship win and commemorates their first brightly coloured kit design, while the 2003-inspired Knit Jersey is a recreation of their bold green and yellow kits, something that stuck out in the designers' memories of their childhoods. These jerseys and the documentation of their historic origins on MOTHERLAND’s online platforms act as an archive of Pakistani history. By creating a product that melds modern, Western tastes with Pakistan’s traditions, MOTHERLAND is keeping the diaspora engaged.
Every piece of MOTHERLAND’s merchandise is a souvenir; a window into the an inherited past. They capture the uniquness of Pakistani cultural identity through a new lens, with an aim to keep its history alive for generations to come.
Follow MOTHERLAND here.
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