Khalid bin Sultan Al Qasimi (fashion designer)

Khalid bin Sultan Al Qasimi (Arabic: خالد بن سلطان القاسمي‎) (6 April 1980 in Sharjah – 1 July 2019 in London), known professionally as Khalid Al Qasimi, was an Emirati royal and fashion designer in London who founded the Qasimi fashion label. He was the second son of Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi, who has been ruler of the Emirate of Sharjah since 1972. Al Qasimi died on 1 July 2019 in London as a result of drug overdose.

This article is about the 21st-century fashion designer. For 19th-century ruler of Sharjah, see Khalid bin Sultan Al Qasimi.
Khalid bin Sultan Al Qasimi
Khalid bin Sultan Al Qasimi in 2019
Born6 April 1980
Sharjah, United Arab Emirates[1]
Died (aged 39)
London, United Kingdom
NationalityEmirati
Other namesKhalid Al Qasimi
OccupationFashion designer
Known forQasimi fashion label
Websitewww.qasimi.com

Early life and education

Al Qasimi was born on 6 April 1980. He moved to London when he was nine years old[2] and was educated at the Tonbridge School in Kent. In 2004, Al Qasimi won two golden prizes in the First Arab-Euro Festival for Photography which was organised by the Arab Photographers Union in Europe under the theme of "History, technique and heritage."[3] Al Qasimi studied architecture and fashion design at Central Saint Martins in London.

Career

He established the British clothing chain Qasimi Homme in 2008.[4] There he was the founder and creative director. As fashion designer he is best known for having incorporated Arab elements in his male and female costume designs. Much of Al Qasimi's women's collection was inspired by the Gulf’s colourful jalabiya dresses. Al Qasimi said models should "resemble warriors walking out of a crypt and down the runway."[5] His designs have been shown as part of London and Paris Fashion Weeks. Among some of the celebrities who have worn Qasimi outfits include Lady Gaga, Florence Welch and Cheryl Cole.[6][7] In an interview with Japan Fashion TV Al Qasimi said: "Qasimi is a way for me to discuss what's going on around us whether it is politics or economics".[8] Some of his designs include £115 ($144) T-shirt with the writing in Arabic, that read: "Press. Don't Shoot."[2]

Al Qasimi was the chairman of the Sharjah Urban Planning Council as well as the leader of the region’s first international platform for architecture, the Sharjah Architecture Triennial – a non-profit initiative funded by the Government of Sharjah, to focus on encouraging dialogue on architecture and urbanism in the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia – set to take place at the end of 2019.[9][10]

Personal life

Khalid bin Sultan Al Qasimi was the son of Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi, the current ruler of Sharjah, and hailed from the emirate's royal Al Qasimi family. He had three sisters, one half sister and a half-brother, according to the official biography of Sharjah ruler Sheikh Sultan bin Mohamed Al Qasimi. His twin sister, Hoor bint Sultan Al Qasimi, is the director of the Sharjah Art Foundation.

Khalid's older half-brother, Sheikh Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, died of a heroin overdose in 1999 at the family's English manor house in Sussex.

Al Qasimi was found dead in his London penthouse apartment in Knightsbridge on 1 July 2019.[11] Three days of national mourning across the UAE were declared, beginning with flags to be flown at half mast. He was laid to rest on 3 July at Jubail Cemetery.[2] His father posted images and a video of the funeral prayers on Instagram.[12] During his funeral his father was flanked by his fellow rulers, including Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, ruler of Ajman, and Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Crown Prince of Ajman, Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, and Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance.[13]

On 11 December 2019 a hearing was held at Westminster Coroner's Court about Al Qasimi's death circumstances. Al Qasimi had spent his final hours on the night before his death partying according to the toxicology report by Dr Susan Patterson he had high levels (more than 300mg) of the sex-drug GHB and cocaine in his system. Detective Sergeant Adrian De Villiers, who investigated his death, stated: ″There is no suggestion of anybody acting in a way to give or make Khalid take these drugs″. Relatives of the Prince were not present. Coroner Bernard Richmond QC gave a verdict of drugs-related death.[14][15][16]

References
  1. "Video: Sharjah Ruler's son Sheikh Khalid Bin Sultan laid to rest at Al Jubail Cemetery". gulftoday.ae. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  2. John, Tara; Wojazer, Barbara (4 July 2019). "UAE prince and fashion designer Khalid Al Qasimi dies in unexplained circumstances". CNN. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
  3. "Khalid bin Sultan Al Qasimi wins two golden prizes in photography – UAE Interact".
  4. "The Hot Forty: Khalid Al Qasimi". Gulf News.
  5. "Qasimi: A new Emirati fashion label is born". Global Arab Network.
  6. https://dubaisitgirl.blogspot.com/2010/01/new-prince-of-fashion-sheikh-khalid-al.html
  7. "Dubai's It Girl – The New Prince of Fashion: Sheikh Khalid Al Qasimi". Archived from the original on 2 May 2010. Retrieved 31 July 2010.
  8. Khalid Al Qasimi interview with Fashion Tsushin, 23 April 2019
  9. Aidan Imanova: Son of Sharjah ruler; chairman of Sharjah Urban Planning Council, dies, MiddleEastArchitect.com, 3 July 2019
  10. Aidan Imanova: Sharjah Architecture Triennial to become first international platform on architecture in MENASA region, MiddleEastArchitect.com, 3 April 2018
  11. Conlon, Scarlett (2 July 2019). "Khalid Al Qasimi, UAE sheikh and fashion designer, dies aged 39". The Guardian.
  12. Al-Qasimi, Sultan Muhammad (3 July 2019). حكام الشارقة وعجمان وأم القيوين ورأس الخيمة يؤدون صلاة الجنازة على جثمان خالد بن سلطان بن محمد القاسمي [Rulers of Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain and Ras Al Khaimah perform funeral prayers on the body of Khalid bin Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi]. Instagram (in Arabic). Retrieved 4 July 2019.
  13. Ruler of Sharjah leads prayers at funeral of son Sheikh Khalid, The National 3 July 2019.
  14. "Emir's fashion designer son, 39, dies after cocaine and sex drug binge at luxury Knightsbridge flat". news.com.au. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  15. El príncipe y diseñador Khalid Al Qasimi murió de una sobredosis, El Pais, 12 December 2019
  16. Le fils du créateur de mode d'un dirigeant émirati est décédé après avoir consommé de la cocaïne et du GHB, selon une enquête, 11 December 2019
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