Fashion becomes a canvas for expression and resistance in QASIMI’s new AW25 collection, where Hoor Al Qasimi collaborates with Māori artist Emily Karaka. Her vibrant paintings, narrating ancestral history and the struggles of her people, inspire a collection where art and fashion merge into a powerful statement.
QASIMI’s signature silhouettes are reimagined with loose shirts and trousers, relaxed jackets, and casual hoodies. Tailoring is softened with curved shoulders and roomy cuts, while modular elements allow each garment to be transformed with zippers and adjustable buttons.
In earthy tones with touches of indigo, maroon, and turmeric, the collection is enriched with luxurious jacquards and frayed details. Karaka’s influence is evident in bold embroideries and resistance phrases adorning sleeves and chests. Inspired by He Kakano Ahau (2014-2015), the collection pays tribute to Māori rights and other indigenous struggles, reaffirming fashion as a platform for activism and solidarity.
“Emily Karaka’s use of colour, language, and text to depict Māori land rights and historical treaties was the inspiration behind AW25,” says Al Qasimi. As the waiata states: “I can never be lost, I am a seed born of greatness.” AW25 not only dresses bodies but weaves stories and legacy into every stitch.
