Evolution Nation: Culture in Motion  

NMoQ 50-Year Anniversary

Fifty Years of Legacy at the National Museum of Qatar

“Where heritage breathes through architecture, and time unfolds in the language of design.”

In celebration of its golden jubilee, the National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ) unveils a tribute to the nation’s soul, its heritage, its people, and its enduring spirit. The occasion was marked by a heartfelt address from Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Chairperson of Qatar Museums, who reflected on fifty years of the museum’s legacy alongside twenty years of Qatar Museums’ visionary journey. Her words carried both pride and foresight, capturing Doha’s remarkable transformation from its modest origins to its place on the world stage as a beacon of cultural sophistication.

At the heart of this extraordinary institution lies its muse, the desert rose. Naturally formed through the delicate meeting of sand, water, and minerals, it stands as a poetic metaphor for Qatar itself: resilient, timeless, and deeply rooted in the land it blossoms from. The museum’s architecture reimagines this wonder in monumental form, appearing to rise organically from the desert floor. It is a dialogue between nature and nation, where design becomes storytelling and structure becomes soul.

Walking through its vast, sunlit corridors feels like tracing the heartbeat of Qatar. Every curve and passage evokes a sense of continuity, a reminder of how history and innovation coexist in harmony. Standing before the preserved palace of Sheikh Abdulla bin Jassim Al Thani, visitors are enveloped in the quiet dignity of the past. The decision to weave this former royal residence into the museum’s contemporary form reflects a profound respect for authenticity, blending ancestral memory with modern expression in a way that feels both seamless and sacred.

Each gallery unfolds like a living narrative. The exhibits tell the story of a nation shaped by the sea, by the pearling and fishing industries that once sustained its people, and by the craftsmanship and endurance that continue to define its spirit. The interiors, a symphony of complex geometries and immersive experiences, echo the rhythm of the royal palace that once graced this site. As light shifts across the sculptural walls, every visitor is invited to experience both the intimacy of history and the ambition of a future written with purpose.

The National Museum of Qatar stands today as more than an architectural landmark. It is a vessel of memory, a celebration of identity, and an emblem of national pride. Beneath the interlocking petals of the desert rose lies the essence of Doha’s true beauty: a city that honors its roots while shaping its tomorrow with grace, strength, and unshakable pride.

The soul of a nation, crystallized in the heart of the desert.
Source: BLJ Worldwide

M7 Fashion Trust Arabia: Threads of Impact

Celebrating Seven Years of Creative Vision and Cultural Craftsmanship

In the heart of Doha’s design district, M7 and Fashion Trust Arabia (FTA) join forces to present Threads of Impact, a striking exhibition that marks seven years of FTA’s influence on the regional and global fashion landscape. The showcase features over eighty visionary designers, including FTA Prize winners and special country representatives, each contributing their own creative dialogue to the story of contemporary Arab fashion. The exhibition, open until January 3, 2026, transforms M7’s architectural space into a tapestry of color, texture, and emotion, where craftsmanship becomes conversation.

Walking through the exhibit feels like entering a world of artistic duality where tradition meets innovation. Pieces gleam with elegance and precision, their silhouettes sharp yet poetic. Bold color palettes, intricate embroidery, and cultural motifs reflect the unique aesthetic identities of the Arab world. Among the names celebrated are Andrea Wazen, Yasmin Mansour, Mukhi Sisters, and Salim Azzam, alongside a constellation of emerging and established talents who redefine the boundaries of craftsmanship and design.

Photo © Salim Azzam, Flight in Blue 2025. Photography by Rayan Nohra

Each designer offers a distinct narrative through their work. Mohammad Benchellal presents couture as sculpture, with his Dutch-fabric creations molded into ethereal forms that balance strength and femininity. His mastery lies in transforming structure into emotion, crafting garments that feel both regal and introspective. Andrea Wazen, renowned for her luxury footwear, translates precision into poetry. Every heel, stitch, and texture reflects an obsessive attention to detail, embodying the pure essence of craftsmanship in motion.

Photo © Benchellal, The Art of Sculpture 2024. Photography by Tim Verhallen

Yasmin Mansour, one of FTA’s recent laureates, explores architectural silhouettes through the art of pleating and structure. Her work intertwines sustainability with contemporary design, evoking the beauty of modern femininity rooted in traditional technique. Each piece captures a balance between power and grace, a reflection of her vision for a future where fashion and responsibility coexist.

Photo © Yasmin Mansour, 2024. Photography by Ghalia Kriaa

Equally captivating are the Mukhi Sisters — Maya, Meena, and Zeenat Mukhi — whose creations bridge Lebanon and India. Drawing from their family’s rich legacy in jewelry-making, they reimagine heritage through modern eyes. Their pieces, adorned with rare diamonds and semi-precious stones, speak of both intimacy and opulence. From intricate headpieces to rings and bracelets, each jewel carries personal storytelling, celebrating adornment as the final punctuation of style.

Dania Shinkar represents the evolving face of sustainable luxury. Her handbags, inspired by vintage silhouettes yet redefined through a modern lens, embody both innovation and integrity. Using high-quality materials and Italian craftsmanship, she reinterprets sustainability as a design philosophy rather than a trend. Shinkar’s accomplishments, including her recognition as a Fashion Trust Arabia Prize finalist in 2021 and her selection for both the Saudi 100 Brands initiative and Chalhoub Group’s FASHION LAB, affirm her position as one of the region’s leading creative forces.

These designers, among many others showcased at Threads of Impact, invite viewers to experience fashion as storytelling. Each piece becomes a reflection of identity, culture, and vision. As I walked through the exhibition, I found myself not just admiring garments and accessories but discovering the essence behind them. The experience redefined my understanding of how artistry and heritage intertwine, and how accessories and couture alike shape the visual language of fashion today.

Threads of Impact is more than an exhibition; it is a celebration of voices, cultures, and craftsmanship that together weave the fabric of Arab creativity. Through the hands and hearts of its designers, it tells a story of resilience, innovation, and timeless beauty.

“Fashion becomes art when it tells the story of who we are.”

Amazigh Hair Couture: The Art of Hair Heritage

M7 unveils a tribute to the ancestral language of hair

M7 presents Amazigh Hair Couture, an evocative exhibition celebrating the heritage and cultural symbolism of traditional Amazigh hair practices, with a particular focus on Morocco. The showcase redefines the perception of hair, positioning it not merely as adornment but as a profound extension of identity and style. Tracing its origins back to the Neolithic period, circa 10,000 BC, the exhibition honors the rich traditions of the Indigenous Amazigh communities spanning Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, the Sahara, and Egypt’s Siwa Oasis.

Hair, as the exhibition reveals, is more than beauty; it is history woven strand by strand.

Curated by Rajae El Mouhandiz and creatively directed by Ilham Mestour, a Moroccan-born, Netherlands-based artist, the exhibition pays homage to the artistic and emotional resonance of hair across generations. Mestour’s vision brings together fine art photography, scent, textile compositions, and immersive hair installations, creating a sensorial journey that bridges the ancient and the contemporary.

“Hair represents strength and memory. It carries stories,” says Mestour, reflecting on its role as a living archive of culture and personal expression.

Through a harmonious blend of archival footage, visual art, olfactory design, and pieces from the Qatar Museums collection, Amazigh Hair Couture establishes a dialogue between heritage and the present day. It celebrates individuality while honoring collective identity, reminding us that beauty, in its truest form, is born from history, resilience, and the voices of those who came before us.

“Every strand tells a story, every braid preserves a legacy.”

Sneakers Unboxed: From Studio to Street

Qatar Museums x Design Museum London at the 3-2-1 Olympic and Sports Museum

Qatar Museums presents Sneakers Unboxed, an immersive exploration of the sneaker’s evolution, held at the 3-2-1 Olympic and Sports Museum in collaboration with the Design Museum London. The exhibition traces the sneaker’s journey from athletic essential to cultural statement, offering a curated look at its transformation into a global fashion symbol.

Showcasing over 200 pairs of sneakers, the exhibition captures every facet of sneaker culture — from the early designs that shaped performance wear to the boundary-breaking collaborations that bridged the worlds of sport, streetwear, and luxury fashion. Visitors are taken on a visual and emotional journey through time, surrounded by archival imagery, early design sketches, and dynamic video installations that chronicle the sneaker’s evolution as both an art form and a social movement.

Among the highlights are Virgil Abloh’s Off-White x Nike creations, celebrated as modern design relics that redefined sneaker aesthetics, along with a tribute to his earliest conceptual prototypes. The display also features Adidas Sambas, a cult favorite that captivated the Gen Z audience, and the Nike Air collection, whose revolutionary design and cushioning technology transformed not only the sneaker industry but also everyday style. Kanye West’s Yeezy line stands out as a case study in cultural influence, known for its sculptural silhouettes and record-breaking resale values that quadrupled retail prices.

The exhibition also honors timeless collaborations that blurred the boundaries between runway and street, including the Dior x Nike partnership — a milestone moment that ushered designer sneakers into haute couture — and Abloh’s own limited-edition releases that merged industrial design with luxury craftsmanship.

Walking through Sneakers Unboxed feels like stepping into a chronicle of innovation. Each display narrates how form, color, and material have evolved, reflecting shifts in technology, culture, and taste. It also captures the profound impact of celebrity partnerships and how star power became integral to brand storytelling, influencing not just consumer desire but the entire luxury landscape.

Ultimately, Sneakers Unboxed celebrates the sneaker as more than footwear. It is a testament to creativity, craftsmanship, and cultural evolution — a fusion of comfort and design that continues to transcend trends. The sneaker remains timeless, endlessly reinvented, and undeniably iconic.

From the sculpted petals of the National Museum of Qatar to the creative pulse of M7 and the contemporary allure of the 3-2-1 Olympic and Sports Museum, each space tells a story of vision and evolution. Together, they trace the rhythm of a nation in motion, one that treasures its roots while fearlessly shaping its creative future. Within these walls, artistry becomes language, craftsmanship becomes legacy, and innovation reflects identity.

Qatar’s cultural story continues to unfold like a living canvas, where architecture, fashion, and design intertwine to express both heritage and aspiration. It is a place where every creation, whether a building, a garment, or a sneaker, carries the same poetic intention: to honor the past while imagining the future. Here, tradition does not stand still; it moves, breathes, and transforms, echoing the soul of a nation that finds beauty in both its history and its horizon.