Inspire :: By Walid

Mr. Walid al Damirji is a clothing designer based in London's Mayfair district.

He is unusual in that enterprise because his upcycling brand, By Walid, doesn't lean on

a traditional need for massive press coverage or big, glitzy fashion shows ...

Walid's preference is to remain a small, artisanal, cottage industry,

creating the most remarkable (to my eyes, at least) one-of-a-kind garments.

He may not be able to maintain this more quiet approach for long.

His garments are quite incredible and since his launch in 2011,

word has been spreading like ripples across a still pond.

Every piece, made by hand.

~ 19th century Ottoman splendor for the new Murat jacket, Autumn/Winter 2018 ~

"It's a collection of clothing made from repurposed heritage and

antique fabrics, some of which date as far back as the 18th century. And if this

recycling-upcycling concept is unusual, the way it's applied is even more so.

Every fabric used in By Walid's collection is a mixture of many different

repurposed textiles - from 19th-century French damask to embroidered silk kimonos to

Victorian table linen - cut and sewn together by hand on an organic cotton base

with an embroidery technique reminiscent of the traditional Japanese art of  boro.

Each fabric is then hand-dyed before being turned into the final garments.

They are then hand-finished, resulting in pieces that, in every detail,

are one-of-a-kind clothes."

Torn - often shredded - vintage textiles

given a new life ...

The shapes are clean and understated, but oh my, the fabrics can be

sumptuous and often include lace, crochet and beading ...

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........ links to explore .......

By Walid on Instagram

Mr. Porter "Meet the Makers - By Walid" article (quote from above)

Short little YouTube : Walid on Shape, Texture and Fabrics

About : Bio from his website

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To begin at the beginning of this album of makers,

please click this tag : Inspire-album