I don’t believe in borders. I don’t believe in rules. I believe in stories.

And if you’ve found your way here - maybe, just maybe, so do you.

Born from the in-between, Qaim isn’t just a label, it’s a lens.

In Urdu, Qaim (قائم) - Pronounced Kaa-yum - means to stand firm, to endure, to exist. It’s a small word, but it says a lot - the feeling of grounding yourself in who you are, even when the world can’t quite place you.

Hi, I’m Huda Cadekiwala :)

I was born in Naarm, Australia, but my roots are in Sindh, Pakistan

Like many of us, I’ve grown up in the space between cultures, navigating Western expectations and Eastern memory, what’s inherited and what I’ve chosen. They call it being a third culture kid these days.

At home, we speak Memoni, an oral dialect passed down through generations, shaped by trade, movement, and resilience. My surname, Cadekiwala, carries that same history. In Gujarati and Urdu, -wala means “of” or “from.” It connects me to place, ancestry, and those who came before me - a thread I try to carry forward in every piece.

Qaim is about second chances; for fabric, for stories, and maybe for us too. With a little bit of magic stitched in.

We don’t do mass production. We do small runs, big impact.

Our pieces begin where most brands stop looking - in offcuts, deadstock, and discarded fabrics. We work with small-scale artisans who bring these materials back to life; working with fabrics that are often the last of their kind, responsibly made, and anything but ordinary. You won’t find vague promises of “ethical” stitched onto tags; just limited drops, timeless silhouettes, and a whole lot of heart.

We make sure the hands behind our pieces belong to people - not numbers. We only work with partners who treat their makers with dignity. Fair wages, safe conditions, and mutual respect are non-negotiables.

Qaim isn’t just mine. It’s a community in the making; a work in progress to learn from, shaped by feedback, accountability, and growth. Your voice will guide where this goes. We aren't perfect, but we want to do our best. So, if something feels off, tell us. If something resonates, tell others.

We can’t always make noble choices, life’s layered, and not everyone has the privilege to choose slow or ethical. But we can try where we can, even if it takes time.

Crafted with precision and care, designed to be lived in, and lived on. Whether you wear them once, a hundred times, or pass them down - the goal is the same: to keep them in motion. 

Qaim honours the old, reimagines what’s next, and refuses to let the clothing industry forget the people behind the cloth.

Here’s to stories that don’t fit neat categories.
To fabric that’s been through it - and still shows up bold.

Thanks for being here ❤︎

Big love, 

Huda