Kim Richters
You’ll be hard-pressed to find Bedouin tribal wear on the London high street, but one KU student has fused the two for her new clothing line.
Mayada Khammu created a dazzling mix of traditional Arabic clothing and Western coolness for her MA project.
The fashion graduate’s clothing line, called Young Blood, blends Eastern folk dresses and Western daring modernity.
Holding on to culture but moving with the times
The 24-year-old, whose collection also questions the conventional relationship between women and men, said: “We want to hold on to our Arabic culture, while at the same time moving forward with the times.
“This is a representation of how women are equal to men.”
Miss Khammu was born and grew up in the UK, but spent a lot of time in Jordan during her childhood. Her collection is inspired by her experiences in Jordan and her life as part of the British-Arab community.
Focus on young generation of Arabs
The Arab Spring in particular inspired her to focus on the young generation of Arabs who last year rebelled against brutal dictatorship in their countries, trying to regain freedom and liberties.
For Miss Khammu, it can be difficult to find the balance between Arabic traditions and Western modernity. But her stunning collection doesn’t show signs of a struggle, the two mix effortlessly. And she remains bursting with ideas.
Looking to the future
“I’m actually currently working on my new collection and brand,” she said. “I’ve been in contact with various people in the industry and am looking to launch my brand in late February in collaboration with the charity War Child.”
War Child is a charity that helps children in war zones. You can donate to the charity at www.warchild.org.
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