Safa Al-Hadithi
- The RAW Talent 2021
We asked special guests to choose a student whose work must be highlighted, whose talents they want to share with the world and whose names we’ll all soon know in Qatar.
Discover fashion designer Juan Hernandez Daels' pick!

sMoL:
This collection is an age-neutral collection that possesses a touch of magical realism to help confront all realities and use it as a means of social commentary while simultaneously adding dramatic elements to create a surrealistic and fantasy aesthetic further.
Juan Hernandez Daels
biography
Juan Hernandez Daels is a Belgian-Argentinian MA Fashion Design graduate with high honors from Antwerp’s Royal Academy of Fine Arts, continuing his postgraduate education in London’s Central St Martins.
After graduating, Juan launched a label under his own name. Ever since he presents his collections during Paris Fashion Week, where his designs are distributed in France, USA, Middle East and Asia. In 2014, he opened his first flagship store in Buenos Aires, becoming one of the most prominent emerging designers of his country.
His work has been featured in Vogue and Harper’s bazaar covers, as well as in multiple editorials worldwide, dressing celebrities like Queen Maxima, Rihanna or Charlize Theron.
About the Selected Project: sMoL
My selection as a winner is Safa Al-Hadithi.
Her inspiration is very quirky and personal, it translates seamlessly into the surrealist window presentation which is very well achieved. The silhouettes are playful as well as the color and fabric selection. Great balance of aesthetic, atmosphere and concrete execution of garments and universe presentation.
The concept could be explored and expanded into a strong collection with a rich storytelling. The research process produced a very rich mood board, collage and silhouettes. This creative process shows maturity and explains also the final result of the garments and her window display.
Her inspiration is very quirky and personal.
Juan Hernandez Daels



The VCUarts Qatar Fashion Design department is extrapolating culture as an approach to fashion design allows for radical investigations that consider unconventional, and personal perspectives. These new perspectives are redefining aesthetics, celebrating innovative thinking, and challenging what is familiar.
Dana Ahmed
Ryan Basilio
Safa Al-Hadithi
Sidra Sohail
Medhawi Alobaidli
Faculty:
Christopher Fink, Chair
Roda Al Marzouqi, Elizabeth Ju, Ali Khan, Sonali Raman, Esther de Veuve and Federica Visani

Chris Fink, Department Chair
This year was especially challenging in selecting a winning collection from the class of 2021. Our graduating seniors this year have all developed a most varied, distinct and highly creative voice as a result of their studies and passion realized in our VCUarts Qatar BFA fashion design program. I am especially grateful we were able to present each of the student’s collection in their own universe as seen in the showcase windows in the Doha Design District.
Safa’s message is both amusing and powerful and highly unique and I applaud Juan’s decision to select her as our highlighted collection for the senior class of 2021.

Video
Class of 2021: Student Safa Al-Hadithi
Class of 2021 Fashion Design Senior Graduating Show
Related Topics
The RAW Talent
2021