For Waseem Khadra, fashion has never been about trends or surface beauty. It is about building a language, one that blends heritage with modernity, elegance with everyday life, and personal vision with cultural identity. Raised in Sharqia and shaped by Cairo’s contradictions, Waseem sees art and fashion as inseparable from the way he lives. His brand is not something outside of himself; it is who he is.
In this conversation, he shares how his upbringing shaped his outlook, why uniforms inspired one of his most meaningful collections, and how he hopes to position African and Arab creativity at the center of global fashion.
Who is Waseem Abo Khadra?
I am Waseem Abu Khadra. I don’t like to confine myself to a specific title, but if I had to choose one, I would call myself an artist. For me, art is not just about production or design, it is a way of life and a complete vision. I try to create my own world, to live in it, and to share it with others. I see myself and the brand as one entity. I am the brand, and the brand is me.
What is the vision behind Waseem Khadra?
The vision is to build a unique language of elegance that brings together different eras, cultures, and social classes. I draw inspiration from Arab and Egyptian culture, from Islamic roots, from Africa, and from the global scene. I balance between heritage and modernity, between nobility and the working or marginalized classes.
What was your first source of inspiration?
I cannot define a single beginning, but I believe the beginning was my birth. From childhood, my eyes were always drawn to details: why does someone choose this cut, that color, that accessory?
For me, clothing was never just about appearance; it was always identity, culture, and philosophy. That innate curiosity shaped me and continues to guide me.
How did Cairo and your upbringing shape your style?
I grew up in Sharqia, where rural and urban life meet. That environment shaped my vision early on. But Cairo added a deeper layer, it is an exceptional city, holding every contradiction: order and chaos, heritage and modernity, ancient history and contemporary architecture, all religions and all social classes. These contrasts formed my visual and intellectual personality and taught me that contradiction is not a flaw but a source of inspiration and richness.
Which collection is closest to you and why?
The collection closest to me is the one I presented at Moscow Fashion Week. Its concept was inspired by uniforms and professional tools. I wanted to show how clothing and accessories are not just decoration, but instruments that help every profession to create and perform.
The message was clear: professions are interdependent. The doctor needs the craftsman, the craftsman needs security, and the farmer sustains them all. This human and social balance is what keeps the world whole.