Alqumit Alhamad for VOGUE wearing a dress by Sarkis Dersahakian

In collaboration with the distinguished Lebanese/Armenian/Palestinian fashion designer and accomplished drag queen, Sarkis Dersahagian, a profound venture unfolded, resulting in the creation of an avant-garde dress. This masterpiece draws inspiration from the post-civil war era, offering a unique perspective on imagined designs. Notably, the collaborative effort manifested in the integration of a renditioned logo from the Al Jazeera news network—a deliberate act of protest against the network's perceived dual standards in news reporting.

The symbiotic relationship between the fashion creation and its thematic underpinning serves as a poignant commentary on Al Jazeera's ostensibly contradictory approach to queer representation. Within the local Arab region news, Al Jazeera often portrays queer individuals and issues through a lens of pathology, framing them as afflictions. Paradoxically, on its international platforms, the network espouses vocal support for queer rights. This glaring incongruity underscores the prevalence of double standards and the consequent erasure of the queer community in the Arab world.

The dress becomes a compelling symbol, a form of artistic resistance against the perpetuation of these double standards. By incorporating the Al Jazeera logo, the collaboration not only challenges the network's narrative but also confronts the broader socio-political climate that perpetuates the marginalization of LGBTQI+ individuals in the Arab world. In essence, the dress stands as a tangible manifestation of dissent, a visual testament to the enduring struggles faced by the queer community in navigating the complexities of regional and international representation.

Hijacking Copenhagen Fashion Week, 2023

Performance, logo design by me, dress by Sarkis Dersahagian