Ghada Al Subaey: Designer on a mission to encourage sustainable practices

Ghada Al Subaey: Designer on a mission to encourage sustainable practices

I started exploring how I personally like to dress at the age of 15. I found myself buying fabrics and taking them to the tailor to create styles that weren’t available in Qatar at the time. My love for fashion continued in college, where I would mainly wear clothes that I created myself. That was when I began designing for my friends and family. I was designing and running everything from home. 13/09 is my mother’s birthday. I dedicated the brand name to her as that’s where I got my fashion sense from. When I was younger, I used to watch her stitch and cut. I wanted to change the stigma around abayas. I want abayas to become as respected globally as kimonos, and to see everyone around the world wearing them—not necessarily to cover the body, but instead as a fashion statement. I want abaya brands not to be seen as “less than”. Every designer has made a kimono, and it seems like something that is fashionable and celebrated. I would love for my ideas and inspiration to create change. Whether it is about applying sustainable approaches in our work or utilising environmentally friendly packaging, I want the brand