HAWWAA Studios
HAWWAA is a handmade, slow fashion and accessories brand created by Hawwaa Ibrahim in October 2019.
I'm Hawwaa (She/Her). A Fashion designer and digital artist.
I started my journey sewing and designing at the age of 12 when my mother bought me my first sewing machine. I learned what I knew at the time by watching various YouTube tutorials and utilizing my mother’s old hijabs as fabric. Because my family, at the time, didn’t have the means or the resources to buy a lot of things, let alone fabric and materials, I made do with what I had, and repurposing and upcycling became the Holy Grail for the start of my design journey.
From there, I started a fashion design and style blog called "Hello Hawwaa," where I documented the clothing and accessories I created from 2013 to 2019.
Then, in 2019, in my tiny Manhattan dorm room, I started HAWWAA Studios during my sophomore year of college under a different name, but that quickly updated to become the brand you know today!
My designs and art have been featured in numerous fashion magazines and pieces, including WGSN, WWD, and The Sourcing Journal, and throughout my time designing, I’ve been able to work for and with a number of brands, such as The Children’s Place, JanSport, Mattel, and more!
I attended the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) and graduated in 2021 with my Bachelor's Degree in Fashion Design, specializing in Children's Wear. I’m currently working full-time in the fashion industry while running HAWWAA Studios.
In 2023, DKA. Creations, a Black-owned, natural, and handcrafted body care brand, joined the studio. Created by Hawwaa’s mother, D. Anthony.
CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS
Since the beginning of the brand, I knew I wanted to create something that gave and didn’t take. Starting with the very first product: Berets! With 10% of every sale going to WIN and Partners for Housing. I wanted to make this a tradition I could continue. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I sewed hundreds of face masks and donated them to CNAs, Assisted living locations, and those in need. Any face mask sold online, 10% of the profits were donated as well. From BLM stickers to Artists for Palestine, so far, with the help of all of you, we have been able to donate over $500 in profits!
SUSTAINABILITY
Every design I create is handmade and produces as little waste as possible, often using any leftover fabric and materials to create other products.
Due to limited labor, me being the only hands making products, creation of products is often slow and carefully researched before any products are ready to be created, sold, and shipped. Thus saving energy, labor, and supplies. No additional samples are created and one-of-a-kind pieces allow for all products to be of use before more are created. Products are also often made to order so that excess clothing and material isn't being wasted.
I am actively working on creating product using more sustainable materials.
CONTACT
Questions? Requests? Feedback? Shoot me a message anytime: hellohawwaa@gmail.com
Any questions about custom garments, check this out!