Reem Alasadi
Encyclopedia
Reem Alasadi is an internationally known Iraqi
haute couture
fashion design
er. She is based in both London
and Tokyo
, and is very popular in Japan, with her style being described as "British punk and recycled materials molded into voluminous and voluptuous Victorian-inspired dresses".
and of Arab
origin, Reem was raised in London
, England
, and at the age of sixteen, she was working for Karen Millen
in Kent
.
Alasadi was accepted to London College of Fashion
and Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design
and by the age of 21 she had set up her first label and a 1000 sq ft (92.9 m²) studio.
At the start of her career, Reem had sold top of the range vintage clothing
in Notting Hill
. Her stall was at Portobello road market, where she would practice her flair for displaying classic pieces restyled thus widening the appeal of the garment to more than just collectors of vintage fashion.
Reem is renowned for her wildly eclectic style which combined a growing underground reputation. She has worked with several British designers such as John Richmond
, Robert Cary-Williams
, and Stella McCartney
, who have all courted her services, which has led to highly successful consultations.
In 2003, she opened her own vintage shop, and has collaborated with Laforet
, a department store in Harajuku
as part of Tokyo Fashion week since 2005.
In 2007, she entered the London Fashion Week
arena with a show entitled Beautiful Agony as part of ON||OFF.
She recently won an award for Best Show at Japan Fashion Week, where she recently launched her ready-to-wear line, which is a unique collection of deep inky blues, burnt siennas and lacey whites.
Iraqi people
The Iraqi people or Mesopotamian people are natives or inhabitants of the country of Iraq, known since antiquity as Mesopotamia , with a large diaspora throughout the Arab World, Europe, the Americas, and...
haute couture
Haute couture
Haute couture refers to the creation of exclusive custom-fitted clothing. Haute couture is made to order for a specific customer, and it is usually made from high-quality, expensive fabric and sewn with extreme attention to detail and finished by the most experienced and capable seamstresses,...
fashion design
Fashion design
Fashion design is the art of the application of design and aesthetics or natural beauty to clothing and accessories. Fashion design is influenced by cultural and social latitudes, and has varied over time and place. Fashion designers work in a number of ways in designing clothing and accessories....
er. She is based in both London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, and is very popular in Japan, with her style being described as "British punk and recycled materials molded into voluminous and voluptuous Victorian-inspired dresses".
Early life and career
Born in IraqIraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
and of Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
origin, Reem was raised in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, and at the age of sixteen, she was working for Karen Millen
Karen Millen
Karen Millen is an Icelandic owned women’s designer clothing brand, specialising in tailoring, coats and eveningwear. Karen Millen stores are found throughout the United Kingdom, America, Austria, Denmark, the Republic of Ireland and many other European countries.-History:The company was founded in...
in Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
.
Alasadi was accepted to London College of Fashion
London College of Fashion
London College of Fashion is a constituent college of the University of the Arts London, offering undergraduate, postgraduate, short courses and business-training in fashion, make-up, beauty-therapy and lifestyle industries...
and Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design
Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design
Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design is a constituent college of the University of the Arts London. The school has an outstanding international reputation, and is considered one of the world's leading art and design institutions...
and by the age of 21 she had set up her first label and a 1000 sq ft (92.9 m²) studio.
At the start of her career, Reem had sold top of the range vintage clothing
Vintage clothing
Vintage clothing is a generic term for new or second hand garments originating from a previous era. The phrase is also used in connection with a retail outlet, e.g...
in Notting Hill
Notting Hill
Notting Hill is an area in London, England, close to the north-western corner of Kensington Gardens, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea...
. Her stall was at Portobello road market, where she would practice her flair for displaying classic pieces restyled thus widening the appeal of the garment to more than just collectors of vintage fashion.
Reem is renowned for her wildly eclectic style which combined a growing underground reputation. She has worked with several British designers such as John Richmond
John Richmond (fashion designer)
John Richmond is an English fashion designer based in Milan, he was born in Manchester in 1960 and moved to London, then eventually to Italy to pursue his dreams....
, Robert Cary-Williams
Robert Cary-Williams
Robert Cary-Williams is an avant-garde British fashion designer.Robert Cary-Williams studied fashion design at Central Saint Martin’s College of Art and Design, and set up his own-name label in 1998...
, and Stella McCartney
Stella McCartney
Stella Nina McCartney is an English fashion designer. She is the daughter of former Beatles member Sir Paul McCartney and the late photographer and animal rights activist, Linda McCartney.-Early life:...
, who have all courted her services, which has led to highly successful consultations.
In 2003, she opened her own vintage shop, and has collaborated with Laforet
Laforet
Department Store and Museum is a department store and museum located in the Harajuku commercial and entertainment district of the Shibuya neighborhood, in Tokyo, Japan, on one of Harajuku's most famous intersections....
, a department store in Harajuku
Harajuku
Harajuku is the common name for the area around Harajuku Station on the Yamanote Line in the Shibuya ward of Tokyo, Japan....
as part of Tokyo Fashion week since 2005.
In 2007, she entered the London Fashion Week
London Fashion Week
London Fashion Week is an apparel trade show held in London, England twice each year, in February and September. It is one of the "Big Four" fashion weeks, along with New York Fashion Week, Milan Fashion Week and Paris Fashion Week.-Organization:...
arena with a show entitled Beautiful Agony as part of ON||OFF.
She recently won an award for Best Show at Japan Fashion Week, where she recently launched her ready-to-wear line, which is a unique collection of deep inky blues, burnt siennas and lacey whites.
Quotes
- "My fascination for clothes started when I was a teenager. I was offered a place at St Martins School of art, in London, but instead I opted to teach myself to pattern cut and sew by unpicking damaged vintage pieces apart and sewing them back together again. In time, I would start to sell my own customised vintage pieces on my stall. Eventually designers started to take a keen interest in my work."