M
eet team Salzakih: young and passionate Saleh Abdulrahman, his elegant and driven mother Zakia Al Mudakhka, his sister Haneen, and even his artistically gifted seven-year-old niece Nouf, are part of the master plan. “My label Salzakih,” explains the 26-year-old designer, “actually comes from our names, Sal – for Saleh, Zaki – for my mother Zakia, and the H for my
sister Haneen. “I wanted to have a shared ground between me and my family. My mum is an artist and a teacher. And I studied economics at University, but as I got older I said we should do something different. I know we have a talent as a family and by working together in fashion design, it will bring us closer.” Saleh remembers his childhood and being surrounded by his mother’s tastes for the latest trends. “I used to sit with my mother in her room looking at her magazines, like Harper’s Bazaar and Vogue. They were hard to come by in the Middle East in those days. I didn’t know what it meant at the time, I thought I was just looking at pictures of beautiful people,” recalls Saleh, whose collection of blazers went on display for the first time last month at The Gate’s catwalk show, Dress to Impress, for young and up and coming Qatari designers. Even though studying economics seems a far cry from the world of haute couture, being based in England and visiting London left its mark on the young designer. “I like the way people dress in London, the popular culture is a big influence I think, as are the colours, lots of greys and blacks. I think any of the blazers I have made you could quite easily see on the streets of London,” says Saleh.
Saleh launched the business online earlier this year, and produced just three of each of his Blazer designs. “There is a small, medium and a large, which can be worn by men or women, that’s the appeal.” Saleh’s mother, meanwhile, is hoping to join her son in the next year or so, with a new collection of party dresses. The former teacher, Zakia Al Mudakhka tells us, “Actually this isn’t the first time. Even when I was a teacher, I used to design clothes in my holidays, and I opened a Boutique selling wedding and party dresses in 1993. At the time I didn’t have the know-how to run a business but this time I want to do it right. “Now that I have finished my degree (Masters in Education from Qatar University), I am thinking of starting my own business, especially party dresses. Women want to know about which style and colour suits them, so I want to design dresses that will suit different people, suit their shape, their skin tone, their personality.” Saleh adds, “And there is also my sister, who I would like to be involved, and my niece who already loves drawing. I think it would be great to use her ideas as the basis for a collection of clothes for children.” Saleh’s ambitions don’t stop there, he says, “I want to register and copyright my brand in the UK and I want my business to be based there. I want to concentrate on starting small until I can stand on my own two feet. But my ultimate goal is to become an international fashion designer. “My style is always something that is a bit unique but not too loud. With the blazers I used leather because I think it speaks of quality, but also appeals to the younger generation, who are my target customers. But my next collection will be something different — watch out for a flash of fluorescent colour, and something that can be worn again and again, with suits that you can mix and match, shirts, trousers, the lot!” Visit www.shoppingshrine.com/Salzakih-Couture
35