The Kent State University Museum will feature the first U.S. museum exhibition devoted to the brand Sukeina, founded by Omar Salam.

According to museum Director Sarah J. Rogers, “We are especially proud to present the exquisite designs by Omar who was inducted into the KSU School of Fashion Design and Merchandising Hall of Fame in 2023. The exhibition celebrates the close partnerships of the KSU Museum and the School of Fashion and is a rich opportunity for students and visitors to deepen their connection with Omar’s unique vision.”

While his family’s origins go back to Senegal in West Africa, Salam lived around Europe before coming to New York City to study at Parsons School of Design for a degree in fashion. He originally planned to study film but realized that he would be more effective in telling the intricate, vibrant stories he sought to tell through fashion.

Salam began his career working for Sonia Rykiel in Paris then became visual director for the New York office. He spent seven years with Rykiel before joining Christian Lacroix in 2010. Salam launched his own brand in 2012 which he named Sukeina after his mother. The word means “bright light.” As he describes it, “Light is what reconciles us with the value of everything, and without it, all goes missing.”

Sukeina is driven by Salam’s commitment to making women look and feel special. His designs feature clean lines but also intricate hand-crafting. Many of his pieces incorporate silk fringe tied by hand onto a ground of lace and mesh. He also creates stunning origami-like pieces of dimensionally folded neoprene. His designs at once obscure and reveal the woman’s form. The exhibition showcases looks from many of his collections, bearing evocative names such as Rise, Hue, Miracle, Bloom and Cardinal.

The exhibition opens Friday and will be on display through June 2 at the Kent State University Museum, 515 Hilltop Drive, Kent. Admission is $10 for adults, $7 for senior citizens, $5 for children ages 5 to 18 and free for children ages 4 and younger and those with a Kent State ID. Admission is free on Sunday. For more information, go to www.kent.edu/museum or call 330-672-3450.