✨ From Doodles to a Cultural Movement

For me, it all started in 2015—I was still quite young and in my college years, studying fashion. This was when I was introduced to digital art, and I instantly loved it. Between college assignments and late-night chai runs, I found myself glued to my laptop, creating art. Not for an assignment. Not for a job. Just for the love of it.

My first few illustrations were completely random—flower motifs, elephants, circus-themed sketches, caricatures of celebrities, battoulah, camels. I was drawing whatever fascinated me, without any agenda. But one thing was clear: I never saw my art on a canvas or a gallery wall. I saw it on clothing.

I was hooked on making patterns, imagining them on T-shirts, jackets, maybe even sneakers one day. But back then, this was just a creative outlet—a space where I could express myself without rules or deadlines.


A Pause, Then a Reset

Once I graduated, the hustle began and my priorities changed. I lost touch with drawing for myself and instead used my creativity for my 9-to-5 job.

Then came 2020, when the world became still. Everyone had the time to pause. I used this time to develop a concept and reconnect with my art. I came up with the brand name "Terribly Real"—my inspiration? I wanted my art to be inspired by the world around me. The world as it is. The things that make our culture so unique and beautiful.

At the time, it was just a concept—not a business plan, not a brand. Just an artist expressing herself.


Taking the Leap

Fast forward a few months—by 2021, life had become a cycle of work, deadlines, and emails AGAIN. But no matter how demanding my job was, I always found time for my art. Every new design gave me a sense of satisfaction I couldn’t quite explain—like I was creating something real.

I’d show my work to friends and family, and their reactions were always the same:
"This is amazing! You should do something with it!

But I brushed it off. Would people really wear my art?

Then in July 2023, the thought of not exploring this creative side of me started to bother me. Why am I not doing it? What’s stopping me? I knew that even if I failed, I’d be happy knowing I at least tried. I was scared—but wasn’t I designing this for myself all along? So why did it matter?

It was a bet I was finally ready to place on myself.

The Struggle Behind the Scenes

Turning this passion into a brand wasn’t easy. I was still working full-time, juggling deadlines by day and sketching new designs at night. The biggest challenge? Finding the right manufacturer.

I didn’t want to sell just any T-shirt. I wanted quality. The right fit. The right fabric. The kind of T-shirt you’d reach for every single day. It took 7-8 months of trial and error before I found the perfect production partner in September 2023. And once that was locked in, everything started to shift.

The First Test: Urban Market Concept

Then came November 2023. I decided to test the waters at a small pop-up event, the Urban Market Concept. No grand business plan. No huge collection. Just two T-shirts. One said LOVE. The other? KARAK.

I wasn’t prepared for what happened next.

People didn’t just like the designs—they connected with them. They’d stop, look at the KARAK tee, and instantly smile.
"Oh my God, Karak! I love Karak!"

They weren’t just seeing a T-shirt; they were seeing a part of their daily life, something they knew and loved. That’s when I realized—this was more than art. It was a reflection of the world around us, the little things we take for granted. Just like how I always wanted Terribly Real to be.

And just like that, Terribly Real was born for the world.


From Two Tees to a Full Collection

The more I released, the more I learned. What started with just two designs has now expanded into many—and counting. Each one is inspired by something we see, feel, or say every day.

I realized I didn’t want to just create ‘cool designs.’ I wanted people to feel something when they saw them. Whether it’s nostalgia, humor, or just pure love for the culture we live in.

And the journey is only getting started.

Where We’re Headed

Today, Terribly Real is evolving into something bigger. My vision? To make it the go-to brand for cultural storytelling through sports-style fashion. I want the world to wear and appreciate Middle Eastern culture the way we live it—unfiltered, relatable, and terribly real.

Beyond that, I want to give back. Whether it’s through community projects, collaborations, or charity, I want this brand to stand for something bigger than just clothing.

This isn’t just a brand. It’s a movement. And trust me, this is just the beginning.