Skate collective Habibis honour traditions of personal documentation with an unconventional heart

What once began as Jamal Abdul-Jabbar turning the camera on his friends, turned into the Edinburgh-based skate collective, brand, and creative studio Habibis in 2017, created closely alongside collaborator, the artist Camera Lenton.

Videography and documentation has long been a part of skate culture, characterised by dynamic shots of triumphant flips and falls dotted in the sonic electronic. Habibis chops and screws this tradition, playing with blends of analogue and digital through illustration, animation, and collage across print, posters, apparel, stickers and video.

Habibis in constantly in conversation with its surroundings; “Our inspiration comes from architecture, skate culture, books, websites, and archives. Growing up surrounded by the raw textures of Scottish cities — concrete, grit, and blocks — has influenced how we create”, says Jamal. In their animation Maghreb Excursion, a local cat is rendered in animation, edging into the screen in pink fuzzy warmth — it’s clear that Habibis raises humour, experimentation, and playfulness as its core pillars.

Alongside its high spiritedness, Habibis carries a deep sense of community, rooted in personal perspectives and connection. In April 2025, they released a capsule collection in collaboration with Skate Pal, a charity organisation which supports Palestinian youth through skateboarding. The clothing features Palestine’s national animal – the Lion of Babylon – designed by Cameron and incorporating aspects of Jamal’s Iraqi background.