( CNN ) -- With designs inspired by the nomadic warriors of the Middle East , Emirati fashion designer Khalid AlQasimi is making waves in fashion circuits across Europe . Founder and creative director of the haute couture fashion house `` Qasimi , '' the Central St. Martins graduate has wowed critics in both London and Paris , with his bold use of colors and architecturally inspired designs . With the likes of Lily Cole and Erin O'Connor showcasing his creations , it 's been a whirlwind ride for the young designer who only established his fashion label two years ago . Born in the emirate of Sharjah , AlQasimi moved to the United Kingdom after being awarded an art scholarship at the age of nine . After school , he enrolled at the Architectural Association but after a three month trip to South America decided that his true love lay in design . Now , as AlQasimi gears up for the January launch of his menswear collection in Paris , he tells CNN how his homeland has inspired his work . CNN : What does the UAE mean to you ? KQ : I 'm from Sharjah which has a different ideology to Dubai . To me , Sharjah means calmness , peace and family . CNN : Where do you see the UAE heading ? KQ : Sharjah is really pushing the arts . It 's right at the forefront . The Sharjah Biennale has been going on for thirteen years . Sharjah 's arts and culture program is growing and in the universities , so are science and technology . It 's all about the new generation . CNN : What are your favorite places to go in the UAE ? KQ : The Kasbah in Sharjah is a great place to go out in the evening . It has delicious international cuisine . The Sharjah Art Museum has a great array of contemporary art . I also love Souq al Arsha . That 's one of the oldest souks in the Middle East . It 's still ongoing with traditional handicraft and silverware . They have a sweet coffee shop in the middle . It shows the old way and how the old souks used to work . CNN : How has the UAE influenced your design ? KQ : There 's always this underlying influence of the UAE and Middle East in my design . The characters I design for are usually urban tribal warriors and nomadic explorers . The idea of dressing as art is part of our culture . The smoking of incense and the placement of the headdress -- there 's a whole art to it . CNN : How has the UAE shaped your personality ? KQ : Growing up in both the UK and the UAE has given me an understanding of both cultures . It 's given me a thirst for knowledge and exploring and discovering other places . It 's made me want to learn different languages and travel . CNN : What are your fondest memories of the UAE ? KQ : The food , the smells , the stars at night . That 's something that 's really stuck with me . You can see the stars so clearly in Sharjah . I love going to the desert , lying on the dunes and watching the stars . I also miss the salty smell of the air and the light . There 's an amazing quality to the light in the UAE -- the way it dazzles and bounces off the buildings . CNN : What differences do you see between the Emirates ? KQ : Dubai is an economic hub , studded with contemporary architecture . Dubai has a bold view of where it wants to go , whereas Sharjah -- it 's not necessarily retreating -- but it 's concentrating more on its past . Sharjah wants to save its past . It wants to reconstruct and rebuild its old architecture . CNN : How does it feel to be from the UAE when most people living there are from overseas ? KQ : Growing up , it was great being in such a multicultural surrounding . It gives the locals an understanding of what lies beyond the Middle East . Most people in the UAE speak multiple languages -- a minimum two and probably three and it 's also given us a clearer understanding of self .
Upcoming fashion designer Khalid AlQasimi talks to CNN about growing up in UAE . Country 's history of `` dressing as art is part of our culture '' has inspired his designs . UAE 's multiculturalism has given him an understanding of the wider world .