‘FÜNFUNDVIERZIG‘ by Kareem Aladhami: Balancing the Personal with the External as a Refugee Fashion Designer

Austria-based, Iraqi fashion designer, Kareem Aladhami has recently completed his first solo fashion show titled FÜNFUNDVIERZIG or 45 which seeks to find a balance between his tumultuous Iraqi heritage, and his new life as a refugee in Austria. The collection charts the space between personal histories and external realities, which stands in contrast to his previous collection B-RAVE, which paid homage to the war-torn reality of present-day Iraq. With an integrated exhibition, sound and stage design FÜNFUNDVIERZIG becomes a celebration of Aladhami’s journey so far, all while asking people to keep in mind the plights of other refugees of the world, who have not been as fortunate. This is why FÜNFUNDVIERZIG by Kareem Aladhami is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

Photograph of looks from FÜNFUNDVIERZIG by Kareem Aladhami. Photographed by Aya Gadelhak. Modelled by Alma. Image courtesy of the artist and Aya Gadelhak.

The solo fashion show is titled 45. Spiritually, the number 4 can be interpreted as a symbol of inner wisdom, marking Aladhami’s inner world while the number 5 signifies significant life changes, such as those which have marked Aladhami’s journey so far. Coincidentally, Aladhami’s mother, Afrah Qais Nouh is also 45 years old. Having graduated from the Baghdad Institute of Fine Arts, Nouh is a calligraphy artist in her own right, whose pieces have become the starting point of Aladhami’s pattern-making process. Nouh never had the chance to exhibit her work due to the multiple conflicts that she experienced during her time in Iraq. As her son, Aladhami felt it necessary to pay homage to her craft, sacrifices and journey which has shaped both their lives so far.

Photograph of a look from FÜNFUNDVIERZIG by Kareem Aladhami. Photographed by Ina Hoeller. Modelled by SMV. Image courtesy of the artist and Ina Hoeller.

The pieces in FÜNFUNDVIERZIG are dominated by the colour black. For many cultures, including Iraqi, the colour black signifies mourning. This rings true to Aladhami’s personal experience. “During the war, my favourite cousin, Ibrahim Aladhami, who was my age, was shot and killed at just 9 years old by an American soldier while he was playing soccer in the street. Since then, the colour black has been tied to this memory for me,” said Aladhami in a statement for Arts Help.

On the other hand, in the Western world, the colour black is also considered a universal mark of those who work in the creative industry. Since FÜNFUNDVIERZIG coincides with Aladhami’s graduation from the KunstModeDesign Herbststraße, the colour black also marks his transition as a full-fledged professional fashion designer. Still, Aladhami shared that even this industry-wide preference for black is something that would have been frowned upon back in Iraq. “During my teenage years, I also went through an emo phase. In 2012, this style was banned in Iraq, and there was even a death penalty associated with it,” he said.

Photograph of a look from FÜNFUNDVIERZIG by Kareem Aladhami. Photographed by DIAURRA. Modelled by Jako. Image courtesy of the artist and DIAURRA.

True to his personal brand, FÜNFUNDVIERZIG was tailored with up-cycled and reclaimed fabric. Certain pieces are further strengthened by the inclusion of personal objects, including a suitcase which contains an Angry Bird Hoodie, a tank top and a pair of black shorts. These were the very clothes that Aladhami had worn when he fled to Europe. Hence, FÜNFUNDVIERZIG becomes a way for Aladhami to understand and heal his past, as he celebrates his boundless future.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has noted that currently, more than 120 million individuals have been forcibly displaced worldwide, the highest levels of recorded human displacement. Only one in three, including Aladhami, have been hosted in Europe. While many more have not experienced the same privileges that Aladhami has. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) data has even found that 2023 was the deadliest year on record for refugees, with over 8,500 people dying on migration routes across the world. These refugees not only do not share Aladhami’s level of safety privileges but also never made it to safety in the first place.

Aftershow backstage photograph of FÜNFUNDVIERZIG by Kareem Aladhami. Photographed by Mike’s photo. Image courtesy of the artist and Mike’s photo.

Kareem Aladhami’s FÜNFUNDVIERZIG is a deeply personal yet universal collection that navigates the intersection of his tumultuous past as an Iraqi refugee and his present life as a fashion designer in Austria. By incorporating personal stories, familial tributes, and cultural symbols, Aladhami transforms fashion into a medium for healing and self-expression. The use of upcycled fabrics and personal objects underscores the collection’s authenticity and resilience. At the same time, FÜNFUNDVIERZIG calls attention to the ongoing global refugee crisis, reminding the audience of those less fortunate who continue to face unimaginable struggles.

Find out more about fashion designs and other initiatives by Kareem Aladhami on their Instagram @kareem.aladhami.