Ahlam, the Saudi Palestinian fashion label whose name translates to “dream” in Arabic, continues to expand its creative language beyond clothing through a recent sculptural collaboration.
Originally launched in the UAE and now establishing a presence in London, the brand has built a distinct identity rooted in contemporary interpretations of Middle Eastern culture. Its growing visibility, including features from Mille World and Hypebeast Arabia, places Ahlam among a new wave of designers shaping regional narratives on an international stage.
As part of this evolution, the brand collaborated with London based designer Jonas Macek to develop a contemporary art piece that explores identity, geography, and the material expression of language.
The result is a 3D printed sculpture depicting a hand holding a globe, a form that reflects both support and expansion. Across the surface, subtle markers indicate locations tied to the brand’s cultural footprint, including the UAE, Palestine, and the United Kingdom.
Embedded within the structure is the word “Ahlam” in Arabic, not applied as a surface detail but integrated directly into the form. This approach transforms the script into something spatial and physical, shifting it from graphic to object.
The piece sits outside of traditional fashion formats, functioning instead as a sculptural extension of the brand’s identity. By moving into three dimensional form, Ahlam continues to explore how its narrative can exist beyond garments.
Developed through digital fabrication, the work takes advantage of 3D printing to achieve fluid geometries and complex surfaces, allowing for a more experimental yet precise translation of concept into form.
Speaking on the collaboration, Macek notes: “Rather than treating the identity as something applied onto an object, the idea was to embed it directly into the structure. It becomes part of the form itself, not just something you see, but something that holds the piece together.”
The collaboration forms part of an ongoing creative relationship between Ahlam and Macek, with further sculptural works and cross disciplinary projects currently in development. Together, they are exploring how fashion identity can extend into objects, environments, and physical experiences.
As Ahlam continues to grow across regions, this expanding body of work signals a broader direction for the brand, one that moves fluidly between fashion, art, and design, building a more immersive and spatial expression of its identity.
References
- Mille World (n.d.) 8 regional creatives on why they launched their own brands. Available at: https://www.milleworld.com/8-regional-creatives-on-why-they-launched-their-own-brands/ (Accessed: 3 April 2026).
- Hypebeast Arabia (n.d.) Instagram post featuring Ahlam. Available at: https://www.instagram.com/p/DGsry0Up3B9/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== (Accessed: 3 April 2026).
- Ahlam Clothing (n.d.) Instagram profile. Available at: https://www.instagram.com/ahlamclothing/ (Accessed: 2 April 2026).
