24 February 2025 |
Walking down the slanted slope of the BFC Newgen space for Kazna Asker’s presentation yesterday meant being greeted with welcome sights and resonant sounds. The Tottenham-based designer, who roots her practice in themes of migration and a contemporary expression of traditional Yemeni dress, made the inspired decision to transport guests to a mock souk in the heart of Yafa.
Inspired by her Dad’s migration journey from South Yemen to South Yorkshire’s Sheffield, the souk was populated with traditional Yemeni silver from Sazar Jewellery (highly recommend, I copped a ring), books from independent book store Maqam Books and hand-embroidered canvases from Yemeni women’s education charity YENOF. With traditional music pumping through the speakers, it was a genuinely enjoyable, educational and all-around quite beautiful thing to behold – and we haven’t even started to talk about the clothes yet.
In true Asker style, the garments were heavily moulded around classic Middle Eastern dress, but with a sportswear twist. The Abaya, a fluid dress, was updated using contemporary draping techniques, whilst the menswear saw Asker blend cloaks and thobes with loose-fitting track jackets. Pieces were crafted using traditional upholstery textiles with sharp injections of cobalt blue and rich red. It was a warm embrace of the cross-cultural experience; a love letter written with fabric, stitched together with heart.
Photography courtesy of Kazna Asker.
