Baaqiy Lluvia Ghazali is an Australian-Malaysian fashion designer who describes herself as both a fashion designer and a multi-disciplinary artist. Despite the fact that her brand hasn’t officially been launched, Baaqiy has already made a major splash in the Australian fashion industry.
“I would describe myself as a fashion designer and multi-disciplinary artist,” she explains, “[but] I am still figuring out what commercial avenue suits me and my point of view as a designer.”
Baaqiy has been creating fashion since she was a child, but says that her career officially began in 2021 when she started her Bachelor’s Degree in fashion.
“My first introduction to fashion was the television show Project Runway … discovering Alexander McQueen made me want to be a fashion designer.
“I completed my Bachelor’s Degree in fashion in 2022, won a national emerging designer award, and was a finalist for an international sustainable fashion award.”
THE ETERNAL ONE
The unique brand name Baaqiy is actually the designer’s given name, an Arabic word that can mean ‘the eternal one’: “I thought that the way my name was spelled is so unique that it should stand on its own, like Gucci or Chanel.”
“The ethos for all my designs is my own personal experience told through shapes, colours and styling. I chose the avant-garde approach because I love complexity and artistry.
“The brand’s aesthetic lies in the complex story-telling, architectural qualities in the forms, and the incorporation of unconventional materials.”
The materials of the brand include a lot of deadstock designer fabrics, and thrifted or found materials, says Baaqiy.
“I also redesign and rework a lot of my existing designs because I believe that design is an ever-evolving process and I am not afraid to tear apart something that I have completed to explore new ideas.”
Designing via an ever-evolving process, Baaqiy’s work is inspired by a combination of iconic designers like Alexander McQueen, John Galliano and Rei Kawakubo, as well as art.
“Outside of fashion, I love going to museums to study paintings and other art, as well as observing nature and the world around me.”
THE FUTURE FOR BAAQIY
While the brand has not officially launched, Baaqiy has already experienced some of the highs of being original and unique in the fashion industry.
“My first breakthrough in the fashion industry was during the 2022 Melbourne Fashion Week where I got to preview my graduate collection ‘Love Is Calling For Wonderland’, which garnered a lot of attention from the industry and the public.
“I would like to launch a commercial ready-to-wear collection or take the pret-a-couture approach, through e-commerce or a bricks ‘n’ mortar store.”
Baaqiy is currently available for custom orders, but each elaborate confection takes a lot of time to create.
“It takes me a lot of time and energy to create and make the designs for Baaqiy.”
For more information about Baaqiy, go to www.baaqiy.com, and follow the designer at @baaqiy. For specific collection pieces, commissions or collaborations, email directly to [email protected]
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