SHANAKHT شناخت — CREATIVE DIRECTED BY ME
This past month I was in India and I went there because I wanted to really connect with my roots and learn more about where my family and ancestors come from. It was a very spiritual and enlightening trip. Ever since I got back to NY, I haven’t really felt the same. I’ve been questioning my identity a lot and confused on who I am and what I kinda see myself as. The more I look at these pictures; originally there wasn’t something that inspired this. I just wanted to capture the streets of India. Dark character, surrounded by all this color…but I think now the emotions and thoughts I feel from these photos is a boy who’s lost among all these people. He feels like he belongs but at the same time he feels different from everyone else. Accepted from a distance. Sometimes the inspo for a shoot can come after it’s over. Crazy to think that but everything happens for a reason.
Lately the main thing on my mind is for my whole life I’ve always been a he/him person but I think it’s been something building in me for years but now coming to light is I’ve wanted to change my pronouns to (he/him/they/them). The idea of labels and titles has really turned me off and it’s frustrating how we let these titles dictate us and how we live. I’m not trying to make a public announcement about it but more so telling myself that hey you have these thoughts and you should let yourself feel it and go with the motions and see where it takes you. My identity has been shook culturally and personally, but I also know if I don’t take a different approach how will I actually learn ? Hasn’t been the easiest to make this decision just cause again, I don’t know why but i feel very scared but I know it’ll also be very freeing.
Allow discomfort. Allow change. Allow the unknown.
SHANAKHT شناخت MEANING “IDENTITY”
CREDITS
CREATIVE DIRECTED @humzadeys
PHOTO @iverunouttanames
STYLIST @333030__
MUA @leon_koios
#fashion #humzadeys #india #desi #identity #brownboy #fashioneditorial
FARISHTA فرشتہ - CREATIVE DIRECTED AND STYLED BY ME
a space bound with no time. a world as lit as the sun and as white as an angel. devoured by clouds of ice brining a sense of surrealistic warmth like youve entered a dream that gives you hope. even the way you breathe has transformed. u feel all can be achieved and there’s no limit to your own ability.
there are no rules. white henna, a jhumka mohawk, a rani (queen) that can do and create what her heart desires
CREDITS:
Creative Director/Stylist @humzadeys@styledbydeys
Photographer @billycolelanders
MUA @makeup.bychloe
Hair @crownedbykylie
Henna @abontii.henna
Model @sachi_bambi
#fashion #creativedirection #humzadeys #desi
DIGITAL PRINTS AVAILABLE NOW AT DEYSNY.ETSY.COM - All Shoots Directed By Me
Im really excited to release these hehe. I’ve put all my heart in creating these and now they’re yours to keep as well. Over 40+ options of variety of pictures. There’s a mix of South Asian art, colorful/dark, spiritual, religious, and even political photos.
Everything is digital so once you purchase a photo, a link will be sent to you so you can download the file. It’ll come in multiple sizes for you to choose which is best.
The link to my Etsy is in my bio <333 xoxo I luv yall hehe
#humzadeys #desi #southasian
(ME)HEND(I) - CREATIVE DIRECTED N STYLED BY ME
this one is for the books. this one is for the child that always felt like they were different. for so long we are scared to break out of the regular cause wtf are others gon think? But creation is never limited. It’s a gift that is beyond comprehension. Create because you love it.
the idea to portray henna in an unconventional way. as it usually is put on the hands and feet, instead we decided to bring it to the models faces. Eccentricity, grittiness and edge. We’re more than just colorful lehengas and tikkas. Expressing ourselves and the roots we have instilled in us in a way that fits with who we are. Things change. Time goes on. Culture adapts and evolves. The way you do it doesn’t make it wrong. It’s unique to you and that’s beautiful.
We have always been the BLUEPRINT.
Naming the concept (me)HEND(i)
ME
HEND - Middle English word also meaning “to take control”
I
Me Control I. I Control Me.
You are in CONTROL of your life so you can pursue what you want. You can wear what you want. You can show your culture, your roots, and traditions how you want. You can be who you want.
As a South Asian, I hope this reaches the ones struggling to be themselves. The ones that feel stuck. The ones that feel lost. This is to the next generation of brown people and others in general. it’s okay to go after what you believe in even if everyone else around you is not okay with it. Live for yourself. It’s okay to be selfish sometimes. Choose you. I Control Me. Me Control I. (me)HEND(i).
CREDITS:
CREATIVE DIRECTOR/STYLIST
Humza Syed @humzadeys
PHOTOGRAPHER
Oliver Barile @oliver.barile
MODELS
Mabel Maung @myanmartian
Jaseel Moreno @juixyjaseel
Dakota Davis @thedivinefeminine11
Manisha Rohoo @manisharho
Surayya Seydi @rayyaseydi
Tasun Champion @tas.unn
Ayden Pol @dopaminedeficiencyy
Zoheb Roshan @zohebibi
Stephen Kostewicz @papoysk
MUA
Andee Korpics @ANDEEEEEEEK
Sophia Cetta @sophiacetta
Kolten Yeck @ysthetics
HAIR
Kylie Lefkowitz @crownedbykylie
Tianna Michelle - Assistant @tspaintedtale
HENNA
Mayisha soho @abontii.henna
Alina Howlader @hennahighs
Rinom Chowdhury @rinominator
#humzadeys
part 2: all about the actual shoot. that day was about trusting the process. Our initial plan got messed up so we had to stroll around the city and see what we could work with that still fit the story we were creating
part 3 tmrw
#fashion #humzadeys #photoshoot
UZLAT عزلت CREATIVE DIRECTED & STYLED BY ME
at some point in everyone’s life you begin to feel a sense of solitude. you navigate through the universe trying to find your path and what feels right to you. on one side it feels blissful because you are rediscovering urself, finding new interests, etc yet other times it’s hard because there’s no one you can rely on. No one to come to when you need it. Ur in that phase of “Who Am I?” The idea of newness is so beautiful yet scary. You have found peace in the silence of your thoughts but crave more. you crave connection. you’re living what you always wanted but why does it also sometimes feel unfulfilling? they don’t talk about how chasing a dream, moving to a new city or in general choosing urself can be a lonely road. the emptiness it can bring you in the process before you finally realize that you have to truly just keep going and allow the world to do its thing. enjoy the silence. find happiness in your own space. being alone isn’t a horrible thing. it teaches u how to luv urself.
let the wind direct u. enjoy the sounds of the birds in the air. the leaves brushing across the floor. the loudness will come at due time.
Urdu translations of a few beautiful poems about solitude and peace. incorporating South Asian n Pakistani heritage into Gen X Soft Club
UZLAT عزلت - “SOLITUDE”
CREDITS:
CREATIVE DIRECTOR/STYLIST @humzadeys@styledbydeys ✋🏽
PHOTOGRAPHER @iconnac
MODEL @key.singh
GRAPHIC ARTIST @disenyo.1995
TRANSLATOR @hajiraa.malik
BTS @thru.ogs.lens
#humzadeys #desi #creativedirection #fashion
ENGHELAB انقلاب - CREATIVE DIRECTED BY ME
Being born and raised vs oppressed and forced into are two completely different things.
From the first day I heard about the news of Iran being in control by the Islamic Regime, I knew I had to create something. It didn’t feel right to sit here and live blindly. Throughout the process of this shoot, I made sure to be really intentional and do my research. I learned about what’s going on Iran… the real news. Not the western fake media. I had an Iranian woman who is truly experiencing this to be apart of it. I had a designer create a custom Abaya out of the Iranian flags; the real flag of Iran. Not the current one that represents the regime. The reason I chose to use an abaya is because I wanted it to symbolize Islam being forced onto the people but even tho that is happening, they still stand strong and represent their country.
Chairs that used to be filled with loved ones now empty with roses, a g*n to the head oppressed, flowers to signify their strength and courage, a dead body on the flower with the flag showing that they will win and beat the regime and gain their freedom.
Words from the model herself:
“I want to send a message to people that we do not have a problem with Muslims. Right now many people think Iranians love Trump and hate Muslims, but that is not the reality. Most Iranians are actually Muslim.
The problem is that the Islamic Republic abused Islam and abused the Iranian people to create a dictatorship. They always say Israel is our enemy, but in reality they have killed far more Muslims than Israelis.
They have a lot of power and money, and for the past 47 years people in Iran have tried many times to protest and start a revolution. But every time they were killed. The worst was just a few months ago when more than 50,000 people were killed.
The Islamic Republic must come to an end.”
Today also marks Eid. Mubarak to everyone. Take this day to please keep Iran in your prayers and dua
ENGHELAB انقلاب “REVOLUTION”
CREDITS:
Creative Director @humzadeys
Model @athenamomeni
Designer @tiredofmassproduction
Photographer @oliver.barile
Producer Assist @jalentgunter
#humzadeys
final part to the creation of the shoot!
pictures release tmrw
spread love, spread awareness, speak up and support
#humzadeys #creativedirector #artisticprocess
