There is a wealth of talent in Saudi Arabia, and we love to support and promote the exceptional work of local artists and makers. MCM is one of the brands making this possible with its collaboration with multi-talented artist Hanan Kamal. The regional partnership is part of the brand’s Global Creative Platform and Kamal is the first creative talent from the Arab world joining it.
The collection sees the muralist/artist, who had some of her pieces showcased in the world’s longest graffiti wall, reimagining traditions from the Middle East and combining cultural codes along with her take on modern graffiti. Kamal, whose work you can admire in Jeddah’s Red Sea Mall and Obhur, presents a limited-edition collection of five creatively decorated bags, exclusively available on Ounass.ae.
In the collection, Kamal, also a singer, songwriter and composer, features unexpected yet stunning pairings of motifs in vibrant bursts of colour that inject fun into every piece. The creative force who goes by the art name ‘Pink In’ has crafted an ode to freedom and diversity and shares stories inspired by everyday life and culture in the Middle East. In addition, the pacesetter still manages to capture the bold, aspirational and adventurous energy of the luxury lifestyle goods and fashion house with a German heritage.
“Art and music are both elements that move me, making this an effortless collaboration with a brand that speaks the same language,” Kamal, who was one on the first female singers to perform live in Saudi, says. “This collection celebrates diversity and culture, while empowering the new generation to escalate their creative freedom to their highest potential; there are no rules here, and there is no dress code.”
The use of rich hues of pink, green, blue and yellow, mixed with neutral shades of black and white adds to the collection’s versatility. Designed with the new generation in mind, the unique selection of arm candy highlights Kamal’s vision of bold expression, while still paying homage to her roots. The “Don’t Tear Me Down” singer has chosen culturally relevant symbols that stand for tradition such as the crescent moon, which marks the beginning of the month of Ramadan, and the falcon, the bird that represents courage, determination and heritage. Each bag tells a story, illustrated on MCM’s iconic visetos print in black and the brand’s classic colourway, cognac.
The collection is In line with MCM’s aim to support local talent that sit well with their ethos and empower women.
"One of the intentions behind our new initiative is of course to collaborate on product with an upcycling idea. But this project is also a dialogue, about the power of creativity, about the important topic of sustainability and how the current crisis has influenced us and our creative process,” Dirk Schönberger, MCM’s Global Creative Officer, says.
