Paris Fashion Week Men SS12 - Qasimi

One of the most surprising shows during Paris Fashion Week, Emirati designer Khalid Qasimi presents an aggressive, extravagant and contemporary SS12 ready-to-wear collection.

Covered faces, military uniform-wear and what looks like parachute fabric are accompanied by 17th century Baroque prints, a particularly flamboyant camouflage, and bright orange florals.

The whole collection comes together as a kind of ‘modern-city warrior’, with the sombre, military inspired colour scheme interrupted by highlights of bright orange. It also seems to carry some strong Middle Eastern influences; a lot of uniform black, covered faces and what looks like veil embroidery. Nonetheless, the masks don’t seem to be referencing Middle Eastern ‘niqabs’, but are instead reminiscent of the images of Middle Eastern protesters and soldiers with cloths tied around their faces that have saturated the news over the past few months.

In this way the collection seems to suggest rebellion, aggression, and war. Yet all the dark undertones and black colour schemes are contrasted by baroque prints on silk shirts and shiny white suits, creating an interesting relationship between the aristocracy associated with Baroque and the aggression and violence associated with urban warfare.

Words: Frederic Bourgoin, Paris Correspondent

Images: Courtesy of Relative MO, Paris