About | Nesma Studio

The Brand

Nesma is a luxury fashion brand founded by Bahraini fashion designer Haya Khalifa. The name “Nesma” in Arabic translates to breeze or breath of air. Picking up from its definition, every piece is designed with sustainability in mind and a focus on modesty to cater to the modern Arab woman.

The inspiration behind every collection almost always touches upon fragments of nature, and the subtle varied forms of art and culture. Be it through the feminine drape of the silhouette, or the elusive embellishments, the pieces are contemporary and timeless.

The Brand

The Designer

Haya Khalifa grew up in a very creative environment where pursuing what she felt passionate about was encouraged. During her childhood she experimented with various fields of art and design but felt a stronger connection to fashion. After receiving a scholarship to study Architecture, Haya felt obliged to aid her mother in managing her fashion brand Naseem AlAndalos. With her newfound passion Haya changed her career path and studied Fashion Design at Royal University for Women in Bahrain. She also took several courses in University of Arts London to strengthen her knowledge in fashion.

Upon graduation, Haya decided to launch her own brand, Nesma, to cater to young, modern and fashion forward Arab women. With an aim to give back to the community through multiple charity projects around the Arab world.

Design Approach

Haya takes inspiration from her Arab heritage, whether Bahraini or Moroccan, she always goes back to history and is inspired by architecture and art. She also has a deep connection with mother nature, she wants to create fashion in a sustainable prosperous way that is in harmony with the environment. She aims to create pieces that highlight the modern woman’s style, femininity and mindset.

Sustainability

As an environmental advocate, Haya is slowly building the brand to be fully sustainable. She believes in slow fashion, in creating high quality pieces in small quantities, ensuring that they surpass trends and last a lifetime. She pays careful attention to sourcing high quality fabrics and accessories, ensuring that most fabrics are made sustainably and ethically. She also believes in using what’s already available, especially neglected, unused fabrics from designers or textile manufacturers. These fabrics have endless possibilities through upcycling to ensure they don’t end up in landfill.

Sustainability

Social Responsibility

Through her 10-year career in fashion, Haya worked with artisans in Morocco and has a deep appreciation for the craftsmanship that has been inherited through generations. She aims to keep this traditional craft alive by introducing it in a modern way and continuing to work with these artisans.

Volunteering and philanthropy have always been a part of Haya’s life. From the initial start of the brand, Haya made sure to give back to the community with each collection dedicated to support a cause. It first started with a volunteering trip to Zanzibar to build a classroom in a public school and is now focused on supporting a village that adopts and cares for abandoned kids in Marrakech. She is personally involved in these projects because she believes in supporting youth and empower them to lead a bright future.