Khalid Al Qasimi leads a dual career: In his hometown of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, he is chairman of the local government’s urban planning council. But when in London, he is creative director of Qasimi—a rising menswear label whose collections make baby-pink overcoats and Bedouin striped linen trousers look not only tasteful, but ready-to-wear.

You have two very different jobs. Does one ever inform the other? I studied architecture because I felt it was the pinnacle of a design education. Once you learn about structure, proportion and construction, you can view the body as a landscape.

Sharjah must be an interesting place for an urbanist. It can often be frustrating. Some of the architecture could be much better, but there’s a lot of opportunity. There are also existing bui...