December 2021 www.womanthismonth.com 62 MADE TO LAST Visionary Bahraini fashion designer, Hala Kaiksow, has created a brand that most conscious consumers can find solace in – a brand that defies the practice of mass production, is rooted in tradition and promotes sustainability. She tells Farah Baig about the brand’s history and more. Changing consumer habits, widespread digitisation and the mammoth growth of e-commerce platforms have increased the consumption and procurement of products ten-fold, nurturing a trend that is far from sustainable. Needless to say, these changes have been felt in the fashion industry too with the rapid growth of fast fashion brands. Eco-consciousness is, undoubtedly, the need of the hour as the world gets together to address the adverse effects of climate change; so, it’s refreshing when a forward-thinking designer like Hala Kaiksow, the young Bahraini woman behind the brand of the same name, decides to weave her own path in the industry. “I think a sustainable and minimal-waste approach is the necessary in the fashion industry. It is one of the most polluting industries, and there needs to be a shift. Mindful consumption and creation should be the only way moving forward but it takes a lot of re-education on both sides: the companies and consumers,” says Ms. Kaiksow. The creative designer has a hands on, traditional approach when creating the pieces in each of her collections. “My company started as an extension of my masters project in which I was exploring alternative ways of making clothing in our mass-produced world today. I was yearning to reintegrate the touch of a hand and human feel back into garments,” says Ms. Kaiksow. “Tradition is important to me when it comes to my creative process. I value the way things were once made to last a lifetime, and so it became a goal of ours to do that as well,” she adds. Hala Kaiksow is a brand that stands out in the region with its earthy natural dyes, handwoven fabrics and hand-sewn garments. PEOPLE | interview
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