Repealing To The Public: How one designer is drumming up support for Repeal the 8th in Ireland

Shubhangi Karmakar is first-generation British from India, and moved to Ireland three years ago to study medicine in Trinity. However, the move turned out to be even more transformative than Karmakar expected.“Since then I have become highly involved in human rights advocacy,” she explains, “as well as design, social marketing and, above all, collaboration with other homegrown Irish talent. I only really came into my own in this country.”

During her research into medical training, Karmakar led a research team – “of a number of male colleagues, incidentally,” she remarks – looking into the Eighth Amendment and its damaging effect on healthcare.“During that time,” she recalls, “I had a number of pointed bits of advice from outsiders, to ‘tone down’ the zeal with which I approached advocating for the Eighth to be repealed in our oral presentation. It was something that did sincerely worry me, facing backlash for supporting something not currently free, safe and legal as a new immigrant, and visible woman of colour.

“However, on presentation day, I ended up being evaluated by, and later talking to, a professional who had counselled women to have underground or offshore abortions for several decades. I realised the position of privilege I have in being able to advocate for safer public healthcare for over 50% of taxpaying Irish citizens with uteruses, coming from a medical background. I’ve decided to commit myself to that ever since.”

Karmakar channelled her passion into Repealist, a clothing and accessories label featuring images and designs that evoke the Repeal campaign. Repealist has been featured at the Marie Claire UK Future Shapers awards, and has been worn by Stella Creasy, who fought to give women in Northern Ireland equal reproductive rights with their mainland UK counterparts. The pieces include printed bags and tops, as well as laser cut jewellery. They are all bright and colourful – a deliberate design decision.

“I adored what the Repeal Project achieved for fundraising by gaining traction for a highly minimalistic design,” she remarks, alluding to the hugely successful black and white Repeal jumpers. “I really wanted to support the campaign in a way outside of medical advocacy. However, I figured that what I sorely needed in my life at the time, and perhaps what the movement needed too, was an injection of colour and vivacity. It’s the insistence that Repeal is a celebration of bodily autonomy for those able to get pregnant, as well as the sombre realisation of the grief and deaths the Eighth has caused – which the black and white jumpers are a poignant reminder of.”

Karmakar says that she herself has faced financial struggles, and thus was determined to use Repealist to donate to people in need: up to 50% of the profits go to pro-choice charities.

“Thankfully I’ve been able to diversify,” she notes, “and raise a few grand supporting many women’s, queer, migrant and poverty advocacy groups and charities in the last six months or so.”

Karmakar is self-taught, but her creativity and determination are boundless.

“I have trained in goldsmithing,” she explains, “and I’ll be taking up part-time residence in the Pickle Pot Studio in Dublin 1 later this month, to dedicate some of my creative time to Repealist jewellery. I’m really excited about integrating Repealist into Birch and Stag, my fine jewellery and accessories label launching in a few weeks’ time. In the meantime, I’ve come up with a few new Repealist bits that can be preordered by messaging me on Twitter, before it all gets a bit of a makeover!”

To buy Repealist products, visit redbubble.com/people/Repealist, or check Repealist on Twitter and Instagram for more information.