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Shekara: design as a manifesto of gender equality and self-determination
At Satbayev University, within the framework of the ArtLab Cycle of creative disciplines, the project “Sterop” is being implemented — an artistic and design-based exploration of the boundaries of human identity through the language of fashion. The project is part of interdisciplinary student project work oriented toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The name of the project refers to the idea of breaking outdated social barriers (Kazakh: “stereotypterdi buzu”). The visual foundation of the collection is the aesthetics of glam rock — an era in which self-expression functioned as a form of freedom. References to cultural figures such as David Bowie, Prince, and Twisted Sister are reinterpreted in a contemporary context: the collection is built on metallic shine, fluorescent accents, and fluid forms.
“The project has a strong personal foundation. It emerged as a response to the experience of confronting social expectations and stereotypes related to appearance and ideas of ‘norm.’ This experience has been transformed into the concept of ‘combining the incompatible,’ where clothing functions not only as a visual element but also as a tool for expressing and protecting identity,” notes the author of the project, first-year student of Satbayev University, Ilkham Khasanov.
In the global context, the project “Sterop” aligns with SDG No. 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG No. 10 (Reduced Inequalities). Through design, it proposes a rethinking of established norms and creates a space for dialogue about diversity as the foundation of sustainable development.
“In this project, clothing ceases to be just an object and becomes a way of affirming dignity. It is a statement that belonging to a particular social group should not limit thinking, choice, or forms of self-expression,” emphasizes Ilkham.
The project is being implemented on the basis of ArtLab — a creative educational space where students work with personal experience, social challenges, and artistic tools, transforming them into interdisciplinary solutions at the intersection of art and engineering.
