Young people in Tunisia are buying t-shirts, posters and other mementos to mark their historic uprising.
Two months after the ouster of former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, the pictures, slogans and colours of the revolution are in high demand. As the revolution moves from the streets to shopping malls, Tunisians are snapping up items to remember it by.
"It's become a profitable business," said Safia, an employee at a shopping mall in Tunis. "Manufacturers and craftsmen have come up with a beautiful idea. They have placed the photographs that were circulated around the world and were reported by news agencies in small, beautiful paintings and diaries. Such items are seeing unprecedented demand now."
In addition, pictures of crowds outside the interior ministry on January 14th and young people's defiance of police attacks were also printed on shirts and balloons. Red is the dominating colour of many souvenirs.
"There is some sort of a return of awareness of the love of Tunisia," said Noureddine, owner of a clothing store in Tunis. "Months ago, this was missing because of the despotism of the regime. There are clients who buy shirts only for memory, while others, especially young people, buy them for boasting."
One young shopper, Ziad, told Magharebia: "The fashion now is pictures of the revolution; it's also a feeling of pride, and their prices are also cheap."
Revolutionary slogans first made famous in Tunisia are now being printed on even the smallest gifts. The popular refrain - "the people want to remove the regime" - that echoed throughout the Arab world is now a common sight at souvenir shops.
Another prominent change is the resurgence of pride in the Tunisian flag. Many vehicles and even some children now proudly display the banner. At private offices and government departments, the flag, whether big or small, now stands in place of the pictures of ousted president that were imposed everywhere across Tunisia.
"We used to sell the Tunisian flag to constitutional divisions or during some occasions, celebrations and football matches of the Tunisian national team," said Mohamed Ali, a flag manufacturer on Avenue Pacha in old town Tunis. "As to now, things have changed; average Tunisians come out of their own accord to buy the Tunisian flag."
For Noha, acquiring a keepsake from the Tunisian revolution is a source of pride for her.
According to Farid, a trader in Tunis, prices of these gifts range between 4 and 14 dinars; something that encourages a lot of people to buy them.
Since the revolution succeeded in removing the former president, Tunisians show a new kind of pride in their country. Tunisian flags, souvenirs and artefacts now chronicle the dramatic change sweeping Tunisia.
"I am now proud to be a Tunisian," law school graduate Yasin said. "Months ago, I was planning to immigrate to Canada and had made all the necessary arrangements. However, after the revolution, I changed my mind and decided to stay and support Tunisia rebuild as much as I can."
© Magharebia.com 2011
