Salim al-Shimiri is an Iraq

Iraq

Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....

i fashion designer. His job entails selecting the fabrics used, the models, positioning the lighting for runway shows as well as creating the garments. He graduated at Baghdad University with a degree in microbiology

Microbiology

Microbiology is the study of microorganisms, which are defined as any microscopic organism that comprises either a single cell , cell clusters or no cell at all . This includes eukaryotes, such as fungi and protists, and prokaryotes...

, he later returned to study art. He has held many fashion shows in Iraq, notably the 1991 show in the Palestine Hotel

Palestine Hotel

The Palestine Hotel , often referred to simply as The Palestine, is an 18-story hotel in Baghdad, Iraq located on Firdos Square, across from the Sheraton Ishtar. It has long been favored by journalists and media personnel...

 which was attended by United Nations

United Nations

The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...

 delegation visiting Iraq, and impressed by his designs they offered him contacts and addresses of fashion houses in the US and Europe

Europe

Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...

.
Before 2003, Salim was quite successful in Iraq, however, the toppling of Saddam Hussein

Saddam Hussein

Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti was the fifth President of Iraq, serving in this capacity from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003...

 and his regime resulted in loss of revenue and clients for him. He has also stated to have been assaulted by gunmen, were 11 attackers raided his home, cursed at him for being a designer, beat him and stole about $50,000 in cash and jewelry.
The current Iraq war has made business for Salim increasingly difficult with many fashion designers and liberal people fleeing Iraq, there is no much to provide for. He has a pessimistic attitude towards the future of fashion in Iraq, if religious parties take control of the nation.
He says he has been offered jobs to run fashion workshops in Lebanon

Lebanon

Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...

, the United Arab Emirates

United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...

 and Jordan

Jordan

Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...

. He has plans to move to Amman

Amman

Amman is the capital of Jordan. It is the country's political, cultural and commercial centre and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. The Greater Amman area has a population of 2,842,629 as of 2010. The population of Amman is expected to jump from 2.8 million to almost...

, where he frequently holds fashion shows.

On the fashion of Iraq, he states:

"The 1980s were the golden years for fashion," he says. "The Middle Ages were better than today."