Portrait of a person wearing a black niqab with dramatic long magenta fringe eyelashes against a neutral studio background.

Model in an eclectic patterned ensemble and slouchy black boots posing dynamically against a desert landscape backdrop.

Model wearing a black beaded ensemble, white lace veil, and crescent headpiece posing against a neutral draped backdrop.

Model wearing an avant-garde sculptural white pleated gown with a flowing train in a black-and-white desert landscape with rock buttes.

Black woman with facial piercings wearing an ornate pink paisley head covering against a neutral grey studio background.

Model flexing in a red numbered football jersey, sheer red skirt, striped tie, and boots in front of a desert backdrop.

Model wearing a sculpted, off-white hooded pleated garment layered over an arid orange desert landscape with a blue sky.

Model in an elaborate green brocade robe and tall red headdress posing against a mottled brown textured backdrop.

Close-up portrait of a model with dramatic colorful eye makeup, glossy black lipstick, and a black hood framing the face.

Model wearing an ornate green and purple rhinestone mask, crystal face embellishments, and a lilac top before a blue sky backdrop.

A smiling Black woman posing in an ornate gold-embroidered black gown, bandana scarf, and black cowboy hat against a light backdrop.

Paper Magazine SARAB 2026

About

SARAB, a compelling editorial project featured in Paper Magazine, masterfully bridges the gap between traditional modest dress and the avant-garde sensibilities of contemporary luxury fashion. Photographed by Gustavo Chams, the series functions as a visual exploration of cultural identity, expertly weaving together contrasting elements of heritage and modern design. By juxtaposing iconic garments like the niqab and hijab with unconventional styling choices—such as neon eyelash extensions, rhinestone-encrusted masks, and western-inspired accessories—the project creates a surreal, high-fashion narrative that defies standard sartorial categorization. The execution relies on a diverse range of technical approaches, shifting fluidly from the intimate, highly controlled environment of studio strobe portraiture to expansive, cinematic desert landscapes captured with natural light. This duality emphasizes the tactile nature of the intricate textiles, from metallic mesh and dense pleating to ornate gold embroidery, while simultaneously inviting the viewer into a space of theatrical introspection. With a distinct editorial minimalism present in the close-up portraits and a dreamlike quality achieved through techniques such as double exposure, SARAB cements itself as a striking meditation on modern identity. Through this lens, Chams highlights a powerful dialogue between heritage and rebellion, resulting in a cohesive, visually arresting spread that feels both deeply rooted in tradition and provocatively experimental.