Platforms such as Fashion Art Toronto are helping reshape the perception of Gulf creatives globally by highlighting modern, personal and internationally relevant stories from the region, according to fashion designer Rayan Alami, ahead of a Qatar-backed fashion showcase in Canada later this month.
The showcase, scheduled from May 23-31, is a part of the Qatar Canada and Mexico 2026 Year of Culture programme. A delegation of emerging Qatari and Qatar-based designers from Doha’s creative hub M7 will present their collections at Fashion Art Toronto, offering international audiences a closer look at the evolving fashion and design scene in Qatar and the Gulf region.
The delegation includes Noof al-Mulla, founder of LIN; Samah Sulyman, founder of Jeu Due Denim; Alami, founder of Authentic Roz’; and Tash and Ley, founder of Tash & Ley Collections.
Speaking ahead of the event, Alami told the Gulf Times that growing up in Qatar and also his Moroccan and Brazilian roots, strongly influenced his understanding of identity and storytelling through fashion.
“Being influenced by several cultures, while also growing up surrounded by people from all over the world, has played a major role in the way I understand identity,” Alami said.
He noted that Qatar’s multicultural environment exposed him to different perspectives, traditions and experiences, encouraging him to reflect on ideas of belonging and cultural identity.
“This hybridity is really the essence of my work. It connects me to a broader question: what is identity, and what does it mean to be from somewhere?” he said.
Alami pointed out that every culture carries its own values, worldview and forms of expression, and that living among diverse communities in Qatar allowed him to draw inspiration from multiple influences.
His latest collection, “Third Space,” explores the emotional and personal experience of navigating different cultural identities. According to Alami, the collection reflects a broader shift among young people in the country and the Gulf, many of whom are influenced by multiple cultures simultaneously.
“I think this hybridity is becoming more visible among young people in Qatar and the Gulf, but it remains very personal for each individual,” he said.
He added that identity is shaped by personal experiences, family backgrounds, values and the environments people grow up in, making each person’s journey unique.
“In a way, Third Space is my own interpretation of that feeling. It reflects the space between different cultures and identities, where you do not necessarily belong to one fixed place, but instead create your own language from everything that has shaped you,” Alami said.
He also stressed the importance of international cultural initiatives in giving Gulf designers opportunities to connect with wider audiences and challenge stereotypes about the region’s creativity.
Alami described the current period as “an incredible time” for the Gulf’s creative sector, pointing to growing experimentation and new forms of artistic expression emerging across fashion and contemporary art.
“The Gulf has strong resources, international communities and a deeply rooted cultural identity,” he said. “That creates a powerful opportunity for artists and designers to express something new.”
According to Alami, initiatives such as the Qatar Canada and Mexico 2026 Year of Culture programme play a key role in promoting cultural dialogue and opening doors for meaningful international exchange.
He said platforms like Fashion Art Toronto help demonstrate the diversity and complexity of Gulf creativity to audiences abroad.
“They help change the perception that creativity from the Gulf is limited to one image or one narrative. Instead, they show that designers from the region can bring contemporary, personal and globally relevant stories to the international stage,” Alami said.