By Walid
London, England
Established in 2011, Walid al Damirji created his eponymous By Walid line out of sheer demand from the fashion industry. His specialty? One-of-a-kind patchwork garments crafted out of rare and antique fabrics sourced from all over the globe. By upcycling exquisite materials, Walid celebrates ideas of beauty and artistry from the past.
The Swiss-born British-Iraqi artist began making all his garments by hand, a practice he continues today in his London studio. Process and quality of materials are at the forefront of Walid’s priorities; from the sewing of carefully sourced fabrics to the hand-dyeing and embroidery, each step takes a substantial amount of time to complete. This thoroughly detailed process ensures Walid’s designs are at the vanguard of responsible fashion. His philosophy, coined “the luxury of zero waste”, extends his couture pieces into the home, where he crafts covetable creations such as embroidered cushions and quilts made of 18th-century fabric.
Wearing a By Walid is like wearing an intimate work of art. Often they are luxurious assemblages of Rococo silks, antique lace, vintage linen, Baroque embroideries and Spanish chinoiserie shawls. These pieces only improve with age, as the provenance of their cloth is poised to absorb a new story. Ultimately, By Walid’s clothes speak of craft and history at their most primal level.
