ZARDAR

Many asoiaf characters have long been depicted by artists in clothing inspired by, or directly borrowed from, real-world cultures. This, I think, is normal. Westeros is a fictional world, so to visualize it, artists naturally draw inspiration from the people(s), places, and cultures around them.

That said, I’ve seen criticisms that artists depicting certain characters—like the Martells—in West Asian or South Asian attire could be seen as orientalist. I understand this perspective, and I firmly believe that haphazard or careless borrowing of visual motifs, clothing, or other cultural elements from a specific culture can unintentionally (or even intentionally) exoticize it. In my own work, I do draw heavily from cultures other than my own, but I make a conscious effort to research what I’m borrowing and always note my references in my posts, so viewers can explore the original pieces and learn more about them.

Regarding Laena, yes—as a fictional character, she isn’t Algerian and has no connection to Algeria. I drew inspiration from the Tlemcen chedda because certain aspects of this dress, like the rows of pearls, aesthetically and thematically aligned with Laena as a character (a member of a house with strong naval power). Of course, if an Algerian viewer felt uncomfortable with the depiction, I would not post the work. In my art, I strive to honour and celebrate the cultures I draw from.

I would love to draw Daenerys of Dorne in an Egyptian Assuit (tulle-bi-telli) dress (jalabiya). This beautiful textile, traditionally worn as a shawl or a dress, is created by hand-threading thin strips of metal, such as alloy, gold, or copper, into cotton or linen tulle. The metal is then cross-crossed and flattened into intricate geometric patterns, creating the fabric’s signature shimmer.