In a world absorbed by fast fashion, By Walid’s Walid al Damirji excels at just the opposite.
His distinctive, one-of-a-kind pieces are painstakingly created by hand, combining found assemblages of Chinese piano shawls, antique lace and other rare, exquisite textiles.
In his latest delivery, The Kings and Queens of the Earth, Walid reinterprets the royal fabrics and motifs of yore through his uniquely modern lens.
The cut of the Ilana is reminiscent of sporty bomber jackets with its cropped style and dearth of traditional embellishment.
The warm blue silk speaks to pastoral French landscape paintings – with a dash of gilded influence in the pale yellow of the sleeve.
Across the shoulders, spread the wings of an embroidered phoenix.
In the Crystal, there is a much more classic By Walid approach.
The style drapes down the body, creating an elongated line for the eye to follow.
Through winding floral motifs and the inclusion of a playfully stitched aviary, Walid calls upon the inspiration of antique silk tapestries.
On the back of the jacket, the purple stitching, which borders the edges of the piece, moves in a baroque diagonal – a wink to his contemporary flair.
The Crystal jacket in this punchy orange hue is a far different take than its sibling – one that celebrates the inherent poise of Chinese flora, such as peonies and chrysanthemums.
This bouquet sprawls across the vibrant, but resonant, backdrop.
The calmness of this arrangement focuses the eye on Walid’s hand stitching, which curls in organic patterns across the breadth of the piece.
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.
