5ivepillars returns this year with its cherished ‘Hub/Love’ (حب) series. This installment focuses on the ins and outs of interracial marriage and the dimensions that make up the beauty of such bonds. A love, not out of convenience, but one with conviction, perseverance and purpose.
This capsule features our 360 GSM heavy-weight cotton as well as garment dye and enzyme wash to provide an ultra-soft feel. Our iconic embroidered Love logo in Arabic is seen at the front, while the classic embroidered 5ivepillars logo is seen at the hood. In addition, ribbing is seen at the hem and sleeves and lastly, colors offered include olive, purple, black and ivory.
The campaign highlights interracial marriage as 5ivepillars speaks to Kay and Samar; an endearing combination of two seemingly different worlds of culture. They welcome us to experience a heart-warming love that does not disregard tribe nor nation but rather, one that celebrates the colors that contrast their differences and encourages their similarities to harmonize. With almost 3 years as husband and wife, they share with us some valuable insight on how to understand love and embrace it in a charming way.
Samar and Kay epitomize the notion of finding a love that is a coolness to their eyes. They share a Love with a greater goal; a companionship that exceeds fleeting emotion and desire. One that embodies the essence of faith; wherein our hearts are trained to love with sincerity and understanding. A spiritual and hopeful Love that builds the foundations of Home. It expands the heart and mind to a more complete understanding of what Love means to begin with.
When the world offers trial, they can seek refuge in their Creator, and the Love and Sakinaah He has gifted to them, all of which dwell peacefully in this Home. This- to many of us, is a Love we aspire to attain. It is a Love that revolutionizes perceptions of a community and opens our eyes to just how great Love can be.
See full interview below.
How did the two of you meet, and when did you realize your love?
Kay: We met in college during Samar‘s freshman year and my (Kay) junior year. I worked at the student center on campus which is a central hub for the students to pass through or hang out if they wanted. It was Halloween and there was an event going on in one of the ballrooms at the student center. Samar and her two roommates approached the front desk where I was working where I was working at the time. What seemed like a normal and first conversation at the time, turned out to be the start of our forever.
Samar: The moment I thought I couldn’t be with him, or that there was a possibility that it may not happen, and we wouldn’t be in each other’s lives, was the moment I knew that this is what I wanted forever.
Kay: Similar to Samar’s answer, I realized I was in love when the possibility of not being with her seem like a reality. It was the possibility of absence that made both of us realize how important we are to each other.
Did you face any trials when introducing one another to your families?
Kay: As you can imagine we both faced trials when introducing each other to our families. I say “we” loosely as my wife was the one dealing with the brunt of the trials and tribulations. Within the desi community and Samar’s family, interracial marriages aren’t something you typically see. It took over four years for us to convince Samar’s parents the fears and unknowns would be things we would be able to overcome. With a lot of patience, prayer, hard discussions, and support from siblings, Alhumdulillah we were able to get the blessing of Samar’s family.
Name 3 traits that you love most about your husband/wife.
Kay: She is extremely selfless. Will put her worst enemy's well-being above her own. Second, she is extremely goofy and the funniest person I’ve ever met. Lastly, she is the most kind-hearted person you will ever meet.
Samar: He is the funniest person I know and can make me laugh no matter how upset I am. Kay is also extremely caring and will always go above and beyond to make me happy. Lastly, he’s a go-getter, very responsible, and always wants to better himself. In turn, it makes me reflect on myself, as a human and a Muslim and what I can do to be better.
What does love mean to you?
Kay: We both decided that love means being best friends before anything else. We started off as best friends and our relationship was able to grow from there. We lean on each other, confide in each other, and love each other in a way where it’s not comparable to any other relationship we have.
In what way has your definition of love changed since you found it in each other?
Kay: The definition of love hasn’t changed necessarily, but has expanded. Now love means compromising and accepting each other‘s flaws in the best way possible. Overall, it just means being there for each other during the good, the bad and the ugly stages of our individual lives.
Name one thing you love about your spouse’s culture.
Kay: Our cultures are very similar, which is something neither of us knew prior to coming into this. For me, I love the food and I also love how everything is family oriented. Every event, every celebration, and every gathering are curated to emphasize family. Samar loves Nigerian food, specifically my mom’s jollof rice. She also loves how festive and lively Nigerian weddings are. Samar loves seeing me in my element when I’m engrossed in my culture and loves to take part in all the traditions. We had my brother’s wedding over the Summer and Samar was able to see the ins and outs of a traditional Nigerian wedding!
What advice would you give to other young Muslims who have found love that dwells beyond their culture?
Kay: The true and honest advice is patience and prayer. By no means was this easy for either of us, but when it came down to it, we knew this is what we wanted, and we weren’t going to budge from that. We wanted to maintain respect with both of our families, because we knew this wasn’t easy for either of them. Having those conversations and getting support from siblings was a pivotal moment in our journey of getting our families acceptance. Ultimately, we knew that we weren’t going to do this without our families, so our actions had to speak louder than our words. Being kind and gentle, while at the same time speaking out truth and letting them know this is what we wanted and why we thought it would be successful. Breaking down those cultural barriers and having parents realize, it’s not as difficult as it may seem comes with time and examples from others. So, InshaAllah, we can be seen as a success story to those who are struggling and can use our story to aid them in those tough, but needed conversations.
Photos by @Ikhan_photography
Couple: @Kaysince1991 @Samarrahman10
Words by @Breatheinbeautiful
Assistant: @Asriaz01
Art direction: @Farrukhershad
Styling: @WorldToor @Amaraabbas
