Stories of the universe inside Frame returns with an insider, Mustafa Al Hammad. Passing through the heritage district, he recounts on the journey back to a region where he is reconnecting with a familiar culture and redefining his passion for craftsmanship and the world of fashion.

Tell us about yourself.

Mustafa. 26 years old. Saudi Arabian. Moved to Dubai in 2019 after living in Australia for just over 10 years. Joined Frame’s retail team in 2020.

What was the transition like from the Land Down Under to Dubai?

Nice. I miss my friends, but it’s comfortable to be around people who speak the same language, have familiar looks, and to whom I can culturally relate to.

Tell us about yourself.

Mustafa. 26 years old. Saudi Arabian. Moved to Dubai in 2019 after living in Australia for just over 10 years. Joined Frame’s retail team in 2020.

What was the transition like from the Land Down Under to Dubai?

Nice. I miss my friends, but it’s comfortable to be around people who speak the same language, have familiar looks, and to whom I can culturally relate to.

How did you get into fashion?

As an avid football fan, I admired and followed what my favorite players were wearing –everything from their boots to how they styled themselves in their uniforms. Whenever new kits were unveiled, the excitement I felt made me realize that fashion might be a distinct, separate interest – completely unrelated to sports. And then through the internet, I developed more specific interests in sneakers, streetwear, and high-end fashion.

Favorite designer?

I never had a favorite designer in particular but rather enjoyed fashion for the art form that it is. I’ve been following different designers and admiring certain elements from each designer that resonates personally.

Dapper Dan is the first designer I read about in high school and found it very cool that he made a name for himself through repurposing luxury items into completely new designs before “upcycling” became as common as it is now.

I’ve also became more interested in high-end fashion through streetwear, and Kanye West is an undeniable bridge between the two worlds. It’s interesting seeing how he maneuvers between the two worlds and how he mastered the art of the spectacle.

How did you get into fashion?

As an avid football fan, I admired and followed what my favorite players were wearing –everything from their boots to how they styled themselves in their uniforms. Whenever new kits were unveiled, the excitement I felt made me realize that fashion might be a distinct, separate interest – completely unrelated to sports. And then through the internet, I developed more specific interests in sneakers, streetwear, and high-end fashion.

Favorite designer?

I never had a favorite designer in particular but rather enjoyed fashion for the art form that it is. I’ve been following different designers and admiring certain elements from each designer that resonates personally.

Dapper Dan is the first designer I read about in high school and found it very cool that he made a name for himself through repurposing luxury items into completely new designs before “upcycling” became as common as it is now.

I’ve also became more interested in high-end fashion through streetwear, and Kanye West is an undeniable bridge between the two worlds. It’s interesting seeing how he maneuvers between the two worlds and how he mastered the art of the spectacle.

How has your style evolved in the past decade, and what’s your signature look?

I resort to comfort on regular days – wide pants and boxy t-shirts. My wardrobe back in Australia was more colorful, but now it’s been toned down to pieces that don’t have many graphics and loud colors – in particular to black and grey.

I focus on the texture of the garments and silhouettes. I pay attention to how the piece feels when you wear it, or how it feels throughout the day, the differences between natural versus synthetic fabrics. I’m experimenting with my style at the moment so my style is evolving.

Is there a designer or brand that has influenced your style?

My current aesthetic would most likely reflect Yohji Yamamoto’s impact on my style more than any other designer. His avant-garde tailoring and craftsmanship have definitely had an influence on the type of pieces I select these days.

How has your style evolved in the past decade, and what’s your signature look?

I resort to comfort on regular days – wide pants and boxy t-shirts. My wardrobe back in Australia was more colorful, but now it’s been toned down to pieces that don’t have many graphics and loud colors – in particular to black and grey.

I focus on the texture of the garments and silhouettes. I pay attention to how the piece feels when you wear it, or how it feels throughout the day, the differences between natural versus synthetic fabrics. I’m experimenting with my style at the moment so my style is evolving.

Is there a designer or brand that has influenced your style?

My current aesthetic would most likely reflect Yohji Yamamoto’s impact on my style more than any other designer. His avant-garde tailoring and craftsmanship have definitely had an influence on the type of pieces I select these days.

What inspires you?

Since moving to Dubai, I’ve reconnected with my own culture. Having taken interest in fashion over the past few years, I have found inspirations from studying traditional patterns originating from different parts of the Arab region and seeing how it fits within my style.

The timing of reconnecting with my culture and expanding my knowledge in Japanese fashion has made me recognize the parallels between the traditional silhouettes of both cultures. It’s been quite interesting to take these influences and blend it to my personal interests in streetwear and avant-garde fashion to further develop my style.

The impact of reconnecting with my culture has also sparked an interest in architecture and interior design, so this has also been another source of inspiration for me lately.

What’s your favorite thing about working in FRAME?

I love the opportunity to work with such unique brands and have access to these garments that I didn’t have before. Before I joined Frame, I had done my research on brands such as Undercover and Comme des Garcons to expand my knowledge in this type of fashion, but I didn’t encounter too many of their pieces in the environment I was in previously.

Having a hand in introducing such brands to a market that is close to home has been quite a fun challenge. These are brands that are not what the typical local consumers have been used to, so I’m enjoying being part of the process in opening the door for such a cultural exchange to happen.

What inspires you?

Since moving to Dubai, I’ve reconnected with my own culture. Having taken interest in fashion over the past few years, I have found inspirations from studying traditional patterns originating from different parts of the Arab region and seeing how it fits within my style.

The timing of reconnecting with my culture and expanding my knowledge in Japanese fashion has made me recognize the parallels between the traditional silhouettes of both cultures. It’s been quite interesting to take these influences and blend it to my personal interests in streetwear and avant-garde fashion to further develop my style.

The impact of reconnecting with my culture has also sparked an interest in architecture and interior design, so this has also been another source of inspiration for me lately.

What’s your favorite thing about working in FRAME?

I love the opportunity to work with such unique brands and have access to these garments that I didn’t have before. Before I joined Frame, I had done my research on brands such as Undercover and Comme des Garcons to expand my knowledge in this type of fashion, but I didn’t encounter too many of their pieces in the environment I was in previously.

Having a hand in introducing such brands to a market that is close to home has been quite a fun challenge. These are brands that are not what the typical local consumers have been used to, so I’m enjoying being part of the process in opening the door for such a cultural exchange to happen.

Photography by: Clara Lyhne - @_lyhne

What’s your favorite brand in FRAME?

That’s tricky. I like wearing brands like Comme des Garcons Homme and Comme des Garcons SHIRT, which I can combine well-crafted classic menswear pieces with others that have more of an avant-garde twist.

At the same time, I also appreciate the practical yet stylish brands we carry. Nanamica for its timeless menswear staples but its innovative fabrics that’s simply amazing. Similarly, AFFIX makes it to the list for its focus on innovation and utility without compromising the aesthetic appeal.

What’s your favorite brand in FRAME?

That’s tricky. I like wearing brands like Comme des Garcons Homme and Comme des Garcons SHIRT, which I can combine well-crafted classic menswear pieces with others that have more of an avant-garde twist.

At the same time, I also appreciate the practical yet stylish brands we carry. Nanamica for its timeless menswear staples but its innovative fabrics that’s simply amazing. Similarly, AFFIX makes it to the list for its focus on innovation and utility without compromising the aesthetic appeal.

Mustafa's Looks