SMRQAND Makes Whimsical Wearable Art

Naming her brand after the city of Samarqand in Uzbekistan, Samar Hassan was enamoured by the Uzbek city's mosaic art, which she studied profusely as an undergraduate in fine arts. More of a true artist than a designer, Hassan uses her talents to create fashion pieces that are truly a la mode.

After jumping around a few jobs after graduation, Hassan realized that working for someone else just wasn’t for her, an awakening that led to her kickstarting her own brand in 2018. Heavily influenced by abstraction and cubism, the artist took to the world of fashion to realize her dreams. Apparel though it may be, Hassan approaches her pieces more like a painter to a canvas than a designer to fabric.

“I hand-paint every single piece myself, and I refuse to stock my pieces in shops because I know they won’t take care of them," Hassan tells #CairoScene. "It’s the same reason I haven’t expanded my quantity output, because I don’t want to have to print my designs, I want them to be personal.”

SMRQAND’s current product line ranges from t-shirts and tote bags to scarves, among other pieces. “I hope to introduce curtains to my product line before the end of the year,” Hassan said, hinting at an entrance into the world of home accessories. Hassan is also looking to potentially open up her own store, where she can ensure that her pieces are kept in tip-top shape.