New Karbala fashion house reshapes men’s formal style

KARBALA — A newly launched fashion house in Karbala is seeking to redefine men’s formal wear and personal styling in the city, offering curated designs and one-on-one service instead of traditional off-the-rack retail.

Opened two months ago in the Al-Baladiya neighborhood, Haider Lateef Fashion House focuses on personalized styling for weddings, graduations and other occasions. Founder Haider Lateef told 964media the business differs from regular clothing stores by relying on custom-designed pieces and a team that guides customers through cuts, fabrics and current trends.

“All the clothing is specially designed for the house and not imported through commercial shipments,” Lateef said.

While the fashion house employs local staff, Lateef said it does not currently work with Iraqi designers. “Fashion design is still in its early stages in Iraq,” he said, noting that the brand instead partners with Turkish designers whose work is closely tied to European fashion movements.

The house produces its own line of formal shoes made from natural leather and offers laundry services, with a tailoring department expected to open soon. It uses a mix of Turkish and Italian fabrics and applies what Lateef described as “structured tailoring systems” to achieve different silhouettes.

Lateef said Karbala’s younger generation has shifted away from slimmer Italian-style suits toward more structured English cuts. “Iraqi youth are now much more aware of global fashion trends,” he said, adding that Iraqi customers are “hard to please,” especially when new styles are introduced, which pushes the team to refine designs and fits.

Suit prices range from 150,000 to 700,000 dinars ($104 to $488), while shoes are priced between 60,000 and 150,000 dinars ($42 to $104). Customers receive a fabric warranty certificate that allows returns for six months to one year, depending on the item.

Local customer Mohsen Fawzi said Karbala has lacked spaces that combine fashion, service and atmosphere in the way the new venue does. “There are many suit shops, but the experience and quality offered here are different and unique,” he told 964media.