Kazna Asker’s fashion collection unites Islamic fashion and sportswear

Knowledgeable by her British upbringing and Yemeni heritage, Central Saint Martins graduate Kazna Asker has established a outfits assortment that brings together sportswear design and style with traditional Center Japanese materials and silhouettes.

Named Watered by One particular H2o, the selection was offered at the Central Saint Martins MA 2022 trend clearly show and was the initial MA display at the school to characteristic types carrying hijabs.

“I sense quite grateful we were able to showcase the variety of Britain and introduce Islamic trend and Middle Japanese fabrics to the west by way of a minority’s standpoint,” Asker informed Dezeen.

Asker, who grew up in Sheffield, created traditional Islamic clothes these types of as a jilbab, abaya and thobe from water-resistant nylon cloth and added sportswear specifics such as cording, zips and pockets.

The selection also incorporates cargo trousers, jackets and tracksuits decorated with common Center Eastern woven fabrics.

“I was often a tomboy and I bear in mind my entire childhood I would only see and don Nike and Adidas tracksuits and trainers,” Asker stated. “So I think the sportswear normally arrived organic to me!”

Asker developed the selection in pairs of corresponding menswear and womenswear appears to be to signify the brotherhood and sisterhood of her community neighborhood.

“I was definitely influenced by the area local community in Sheffield and how we adapted our lifestyle and traditions while continue to developing and empowering the Muslim neighborhood,” reported Asker.

“I think there are a ton of adverse connotations related with the hijab, Islamic modesty and the Muslim community, so I purposefully created matching menswear and womenswear to clearly show the brother-and-sisterhood of our local community and that we are all watered by one particular water.”

To improved symbolize Muslims in Sheffield, Asker invited individuals from her regional neighborhood to describe what “neighborhood” signifies to them and what evokes them.

The answers were being collated into a graphic layout and printed on to the again of a hijab cloak.

Asker was awarded the debut expertise prize in the 2022 Manner Have confidence in Arabia awards for her Watered by 1 H2o trend selection, which was recommended for its neighborhood collaboration.

“I hope for far more Muslim ladies to use to Central Saint Martins and to see themselves in my selection and really feel empowered to be there,” said Asker.

“I hope a little door has been damaged to showcase more various vogue and depict individuals in a truthful honest way,” the designer continued.

Other imaginative patterns made by Central Saint Martins graduates contain a solar-driven heated blanket and a printer that initiatives gentle on to algae to produce pictures on cloth, ceramics or paper.

Photography is courtesy of Central Saint Martins unless of course said.