Qatari fashion designer Mashael Alnaimi, founder of Dar Mhefhef

Dec 10, 2023

Meet Qatari fashion designer Mashael Al Nuaimi, founder of Dar Mohaff, a contemporary clothing brand in Doha.

Mashael Alnaimi founded Mhefhef in Doha in 2020 to create natural pieces and sustainable.

Craftsmanship is at the heart of Mashael's designs. Working with artisans from various parts of the world, allowed the handwoven fabrics to be transformed into canvases for textile art such as handblocking, henna art shibori, hand-painting, felting, and eco print.

Mashael introduced Upcycled Abayas, handmade entirely from fabric waste that would have otherwise been in a landfill. Most recently Mashael experimented with the unconventional technique of henna print on silk for M7’s ZWARA Doha Dreams design program in 2022. On the heels of Zawara, Mashael developed permanent henna paste for her CR Fashion Runway look.

Mashael's look was one of 3 local designers selected to participate in EMERGE Fashion Show, in partnership with Qatar Creates in 2022.

Mashael Al-Nuaimi talks to 3oud.com about her Qatari brand, her work, and her designs.

How do you stand out from the rest of the designers?

The motivation behind my brand is to make 100% natural abayas and not necessarily in cotton or linen but in the highest quality Silks. I chose handwoven mulberry silk because the feel is just unmatched and it’s not available in the market here. Natural fabrics have sheen and movement that elevate the most basic silhouette.

What artist or designer would you want to collaborate with in the future?

There are incredible talents in Qatar and the region that I world love to collaborate with but from the ones I know Naila Al Thani and  Shouq Al Mana, I have a lot of admiration for their creativity.

Where do you see your brand in the next five years?

Growing the upcycled collection, coming up with new techniques and hopefully making Qatar a center for luxurious sustainable fashion! We have so many resources to tap into to make it happen in 5 years

Describe your brand in three words.

Natural. Breezy. Individual

What advice would you give to a new designer?

Trust and celebrate your individuality,  don’t be led by commercials or trends. Create what’s is genuinely meaningful

What are some of the challenges you faced when you first started your brand?

The lack of interest in natural fabrics and sustainable fashion is still a challenge. The lack of patience to appreciate the time and effort to Upcycle properly or to weave fabrics,  eco print or create textures.

Where does your inspiration come from?

my inspiration is invariably from my an emotional memory, music or an atmosphere. Sometime I get inspired by an object, like seeing a photo of Kasbah gate  which I tried the create on fabric, pic attached

How has the preparation process been like leading up to CR Runway?

Chaotic and full of hurdles that I’m relieved were overcome successfully! It’s exciting and terrifying to be part of such an enormous event so early in my 2 fashion years. I want to make Qatar proud and so I put all my love in the making of this one look

What is your favourite part about being involved in one of the biggest fashion shows in history?

Being able to showcase my culture in a new light. Having an international platform to communicate the old, the new and the enduring values that define us.

Bader Al-Kulaib

Sheikh Fahad Nasser Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah

Dr. Noura Almashan

Dr. Munira Al-Arouj

Nour Abdul

Eisa Alhabib

Deema Al-Ghunaim

Lama AlOraiman

Alymamah Rashed

Nadia Bader Al-Hajji

Henadi Al-Saleh

Jafar Islah

Abdullah Ghazi Al-Mudhaf

Abeer Al Awadhi

Shahad Alsabeeh

Abdulrahman Bedah Al-Mutairi

Faisal Alagel

Bader Nasser Al-Kharafi

Shaikha Al Majed

Farah Almutawa

Donna Sultan

Dana Al-Mutawa and Sheikha Sharifa Al Sabah and Alzainah Albabtain

Laila Almutairi

Adel Alwasis

Hashim and Amna Naseeb

Dr. Abdullah Al Sumait

Shaikha Al-Hajeri

Shaima Hassan

Sheikha Bibi Al-Yousef Al-Sabah

Free Jabriya

Lulowa Al-Mulla

Salman Al-Kandari

Al-Jawhara-Al-Mahdi

Abdullatif Al Mishari

Hussain Bumejdad

Soaad Al-Faqaan

Maryam Alrefaei

Abdulmohsen AlMarzouq‏

Dr. Faisal Al-Roomi

Noor Al-Nafisi

Shaymaa Al-Terkait

Khalid Muthafar

Dalal AlHajeri

Yousef Alomran

Fahad Al Ghanim

Abdullah Behbehani

Sara Al-kattan

Dr. Manal Aldaihani

Ali Khajah

Raheel Al Roudhan

Bader Al-Kulaib

Sheikh Fahad Nasser Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah

Dr. Noura Almashan

Dr. Munira Al-Arouj

Nour Abdul

Eisa Alhabib

Deema Al-Ghunaim

Lama AlOraiman

Alymamah Rashed

Nadia Bader Al-Hajji

Henadi Al-Saleh

Jafar Islah

Abdullah Ghazi Al-Mudhaf

Abeer Al Awadhi

Shahad Alsabeeh

Abdulrahman Bedah Al-Mutairi

Faisal Alagel

Bader Nasser Al-Kharafi

Shaikha Al Majed

Farah Almutawa

Donna Sultan

Dana Al-Mutawa and Sheikha Sharifa Al Sabah and Alzainah Albabtain

Laila Almutairi

Adel Alwasis

Hashim and Amna Naseeb

Dr. Abdullah Al Sumait

Shaikha Al-Hajeri

Shaima Hassan

Sheikha Bibi Al-Yousef Al-Sabah

Free Jabriya

Lulowa Al-Mulla

Salman Al-Kandari

Al-Jawhara-Al-Mahdi

Abdullatif Al Mishari

Hussain Bumejdad

Soaad Al-Faqaan

Maryam Alrefaei

Abdulmohsen AlMarzouq‏

Dr. Faisal Al-Roomi

Noor Al-Nafisi

Shaymaa Al-Terkait

Khalid Muthafar

Dalal AlHajeri

Yousef Alomran

Fahad Al Ghanim

Abdullah Behbehani

Sara Al-kattan

Dr. Manal Aldaihani

Ali Khajah

Raheel Al Roudhan