QASIMI’s Spring-Summer 2024 collection draws inspiration from the work of Sudanese artist Ka-mala Ibrahim Ishaq.
The brand has had the pleasure of working with Kamala Ibrahim Ishaq on many occasions, and they have known each other for a very long time. QASIMI has had the wonderful opportunity to collaborate with her on this season as she has worked with using her own designs on traditional Sudanese thobes in the past. With this collection, the brand wanted to work with Kamala’s prints in conversation with their silhouettes and designs at QASIMI.
It is devastating that the launch of this season has come at a time when Sudan is going through such a difficult time. The brand hopes that this will bring more awareness to the current situation and show their support for those affected. Their thoughts are with the people of Sudan.
1984’s Women in Crystal Cubes acts as the starting point for the collection, the centre of every- thing, alongside later works like My Plant, Blues for the Martyrs and Composition. “My life is full of folktales and legends – art comes from thoughts and memories,” states Ishaq.
Salim Azzam & Omer Asim
The artist’s potent words are mirrored by QASIMI’s earthly colour palette, rooted in the colours of the sun, sand and sky. Light blues, bright whites, bark browns and zingy yellows are grounded by hues of concrete grey, white lead and black.
Offering an artisanal blend of modernity and classicism, SS24 exercises two concepts: the first being beading and transparency, with the second centering around portraits and embroidery. New techniques like silk printing and embroidery are embraced this season, while the art of flou per- meates both menswear and womenswear, juxtaposing cotton tailoring, technical wools and light- weight cotton with floaty layers of printed silk and organic poplin.
Building on the foundation blocks of QASIMI’s “Permanent” collection, the collection fuses raw- edged sweatshirts and denim blazers with organza coats and printed silks. Cubic embellishment acts as another avenue for play, as clear embroidery comes in the form of strung-together cubic beads adorning tops and skirts throughout the collection. The rich oils of 2016’s Composition become portrait prints across fleece and jersey, with Ishaq’s cubes transformed into physical manifestations of transparency and sculpture.
SS24 is an homage to the defining stories of Kamala Ibrahim Ishaq, with her visceral works inspiring a unique exploration of optimism and defiance, building on the resilient nature of QASIMI SS23.
