Mashael Alnaimi on Leaving Finance for Fashion and Textiles Design

I have always dressed for myself ever since I was a young woman in the 1990s, avoiding the heroin-chic aesthetic that dominated the decade and sticking to a style that felt comfortable and in line with my principles. But it wasn’t until five years ago, at the age of 52, that I decided to finally invest in my interest in natural, handcrafted textiles. After spending 25 long years working in corporate communications (finance and crisis management), I made the momentous decision to change gears and ventured into the beauiful world of textiles and fashion design.

My most vivid childhood memories are of the soft, flowing silk of my mother’s and grandmother’s thobe al-nashal, rich with zari gold thread. It was the 1970s, an era of vibrant colours. The oud scents that clung to those garments still remain with me. They represented profound glamour and luxury. For me, that has been unmatched ever since. As I got older, I became more pragmatic in my style and thinking. Working long and stressful hours in financial institutions left little room for personal creativity; even my wardrobe was plain and monochrome. I worked in male-dominated fields where I felt obligated to dress in dark colours and basic shapes. I wish I had taken on a creative hobby. It would have helped me navigate the stress, but I was too rigid about the possibilities and my potential.

After leaving the corporate world, I found a new sense of freedom and began experimenting. I started with handmade cotton garments which I had custom-made for my sister and me. I was surprised to find that even though Qatar has historical connections with India and the countries along the Silk Road, it was difficult to find pure, naturally-dyed cotton. I ordered my fabric from India since I had been there before and knew how to navigate its fabric industry. The more I researched the world of textiles, the more I fell in love with it.

In 2020, I received a call from M7, Qatar’s centre for innovation and entrepreneurship in design, fashion and technology, to showcase my designs. That invitation changed my life. I looked at all these young designers who had more experience than me and thought, ‘I really need to step up my game.’ I squeezed out every drop of creativity in me to produce my first collection – handwoven silk abayas and jalabiyas – using a special method of hand-painting with permanent henna. Thus, my brand Mhefhef was born. Mhefhef is a Qatari Arabic word that means “breezy”.