Nearly every language in the eastern world shares the word HAWA, meaning air or wind. No matter who or where you are, we fill our eyes with the same blue sky, & our lungs with the same spirited air.
HAWA is a love letter to my heritage, & a celebration of Islam, its cultures, and all the places it has reached.
HAWA POP-UP | DEC. 2025 | DOWNTOWN CHICAGO
The best representation of the brand so far is the pop-up I organized in Chicago. A 10×10ft space translating HAWA’s identity into a physical store, accompanied by a collection of designs that expanded the story. Each element was curated to capture elements from throughout the muslim world. The Persian rug, bedouin style tenting, draped fabrics and hanging mason jars mirroring street markets in places like Istanbul, Karachi, Damascus, Jerusalem, and countless other cities throughout the east.
The collection made to be sold at the event served not only as products, but also fixtures in the space. My backgrounds in Architectural, graphic, and experiential design allowed me to facilitate a fully cohesive experience. Instead of just walking up to a table, customers were immersed in the world of brand.
Visual references- draped cloth, marketplaces (souk), blue skies, warmth and the wear of use. Feeling lived in.
The Collection
·
The Collection ·
-
Dukan (Bodega) Hoodie
This hoodie was designed as a love letter to my childhood. I even consulted my father to include some of his favorites, turning the piece into a multi-generational memory. The print uses halftone effect for texture, with each brand name replaced by my own as a form of parody.
-
Al-Aqsa Hoodie
As a Palestinian American who has never seen my homeland, I wanted to capture both the longing to return and the internal connection that still persists. It often feels as though the child within me has already walked the streets of Jerusalem, waiting for me to arrive.
-
Prototype Zip Hoodie
One of HAWA’s core taglines, as pictured in the graphic, reflects my goal of bringing Eastern identity to the center of contemporary design. I draw from my time as an architecture student, the drafting-mat frame, + silhouettes of people living and playing in the words conveys my design roots.
-
Tea Zip Hoodie
“from my hand to yours, & the world is sweeter with you in it”. This design plays on a few concepts from eastern culture, involving clear references like the style of dress, sharing tea, poetic phrasing, and henna. All of which are common in cultures throughout the Muslim world.
How I Got Here
Before arriving at the result I have now, I was on a years long process of trial/error, arriving at the brand’s voice after tons of experimentation.
This process entailed countless pieces made for clients, previous brand concepts, and coursework.
I’ve worked with organizations, non-profits, and brands across the country. I often served Muslim/Arab communities, allowing me to refine my design/storytelling skills for this niche.
RISING WINDS | FASHION STUDIO PROJECT
Rising Winds
My first fashion studio project called for the creation of my own collection. This is where I played with my initial HAWA concepts in a supervised environment where my professor helped guide my choices and direct my technical skills. I leveraged my extensive Photoshop experience with Midjourney Ai to produce immersive product shots & detailed model shoots.
Salt & Soil | FASHION STUDIO PROJECT
Salt & Soil
As part of a sustainable design studio course, we dedicated a module to sustainable fashion, a line derived from organic fibers and inspired by nature. The concept was built around luxury & easy living, with linens, cotton canvas, & cotton terry fabrics used in construction. Each piece pulls inspiration from classic Paul Newman style looks, & nautical/beach leisure. In developing the croquis, texture, drape, and movement became the defining elements. We designed around a wearer who is climate-conscious, youthful, and relaxed, grounded in an easy-living lifestyle. To help visualize this direction, I used Midjourney Ai to generate editorial-style mockups.
Zero-Waste Garment Instructions
Clo3D Render
Sketch
Editorial style product shots - midjourney
Project mood board & color palette
The technical cornerstone was a zero-waste garment developed through both a pattern template and CLO3D model. The design used surplus fabric to echo water's movement, referencing the ocean and grounding the collection in natural systems. Rather than subtracting material, shape and volume emerged through careful placement — letting the fabric dictate the form.
The American Muslim Medical Student Association | Client Merch Collab
AMMSA
Through referrals from previous satisfied clients, I got connected with AMMSA, a national organization with the goal of providing resources and community to Muslim Med Students. Here’s what they wanted to capture with the design for their clothing collection:
Medical history
Islam’s and Muslims’ role in the practice of medicine
Islamic excellence
Highlighting AMMSA’s philosophy of striving for excellence, motivated by religious roots
Chicago
The clothing was to be presented at AMMSA’s annual conference, which called upon some inspiration from its site, Chicago.
Version 1
The design celebrates Muslim contributions in medical history. A starry sky anchors the concept, evoking AMMSA's aspirational spirit, honoring Islam's foundational contributions to astronomy, and threading Newton's idea of "standing on the shoulders of giants" from top to bottom. Ibn Sina sits at the base gazing upward toward the names of those who followed in his legacy. The design includes real illustrations of surgical instruments from his book The Canon of Medicine.
Final Design
Key revisions addressed both practical and cultural considerations. Ibn Sina's likeness was removed out of respect for Islamic guidelines discouraging the depiction of souls on clothing worn during prayer. The design was also updated to include Chicago and a clearer tie to the conference, while reducing text and weaving in AMMSA's history.