Hawwaa Ibrahim
Keynote Speaker
Hawwaa Ibrahim (they/them)! I am a 19-year-old Non-Binary Muslim Fashion Designer, writer, and activist. A little backstory about me: I was living in Minnesota since I was 4 years old. Moving there from Chicago kind of was a struggle for my family, but we persevered and eventually when I was 12 years old, I started designing and sewing. I learned everything I know from watching YouTube videos and using my mother’s old hijabs to make clothing. I started off by making poorly constructed skirts and decorating every piece of clothing I could find with acrylic paint and whatever else I could find. Then, when designing and sewing just wasn’t enough for me, I started writing blog posts at the age of 14 in order to showcase my work to the world. I would create DIYed accessories and crocheting tutorials to share with others on the internet. After years of practicing and blogging my designs on my website, my mother signed me up for Project Runway Junior Season Two and from there, everything seemed to fall into place. I have shown at six different runway shows including three during New York Fashion Week and have been featured in numerous magazines, including “Marie Claire”, “Girls’ Life”, and most recently, Teen Vogue for my designs and/or my unique style and way of thinking. I began using my art and designs to inspire girls, boys, and everyone in between. I want to show them that no matter who you are, what you believe in, or where you come from, you can be anything you set your mind to. My goals are to show the world that being different is okay and I do so through my wild and out of the box designs and through my writing where I can share my thoughts and communicate with others. The world is fastly becoming a place where people need to be inspired and have the reassurance that they are not alone. I advocate for equality for all no matter your religion, gender, or sexual orientation.
For my future goals, I hope to create a brand that is all inclusive to women, men, and those who consider themselves anything else. I want to make sure everyone feels included. No one should have to face the world on their own.
