Omar Salam is the Founder and Head Designer of Su Kei Na Fashion House. Born in Dakar, in the Republic of Senegal, his childhood was spent in various countries in Europe. As a child, Omar had a very colorful and exciting imagination, which would later manifest itself in his designs and craftsmanship. He started sewing at an early age, inspired after he saw his mother, Sukeina, stitch together different pieces of fabric and patterns. Omar was also very fascinated with the power and intimacy of communication. When he came of age, Omar decided to study screenwriting with the hopes of one day getting into film. He later realized that he could tell more intricate and vibrant stories through fashion. “Clothing is a language within itself,” he says.

In 2001, Omar started working for world renowned French fashion designer Madame Sonia Rykiel. Starting off in Sales, he would later be promoted to Merchandising, and finally became Visual Director for the New York City branch. Omar spent seven years with Mme Rykiel. He regards this experience with great respect and love, especially for the extraordinary designer, who once told a manager to “Let Omar play… It should remain a game.”