Since it was launched just over a decade ago, Wadha has developed into one of the most creative lifestyle brands in the GCC. Founded by Wadha Al Hajri in Qatar, the label first started out as high-end womenswear, but has since evolved to include accessories, fragrances and a home collection, with a luxurious flagship store at the National Museum of Qatar in Doha.
Al Hajri, founder and designer of her eponymous brand, explains that she studied political science rather than fashion design at Qatar University. “But I always loved fashion,” she says, “so it was natural for me to go in that direction. I launched Wadha in 2010 because it was the right time, and a way to express my opinion and my personal feelings, to discover myself.”
When she first started her label, Al Hajri says that most local fashion brands espoused a more maximalist aesthetic. With Wadha, she sought to go against that trend and present womenswear that was more restrained. “The brand is inspired by Arab geometric patterns, and it represents the strong and powerful woman, and her love of minimalism and simplicity.”
The first designs were ready-to-wear and demi-couture pieces. “With time, I started accessories, bags and perfumes, and recently I created furniture pieces for Msheireb Townhouses,” Al Hajri says. The small but growing furniture line is part of her new House of Wadha home collection.
At the moment, the majority of Wadha’s customers hail from the GCC, with additional clients in the United States. “My customers appreciate, architecture, art, beauty and craftsmanship,” says Al Hajri. “And unlike other brands, I don’t focus on a specific market. My customers include artists, architects, doctors, brides and even young girls.”
Al Hajri just launched her ready-to-wear spring/summer 2021 collection, and she’s getting ready to celebrate her flagship store’s two-year anniversary. Even though times have been challenging because of the pandemic, Al Hajri continues to move forward with her brand, with plans to further develop both her perfume range and her furniture collection. We can’t wait to see what she creates next.
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