Taking place on March 24th and 25th at The Annex in Burj Khalifa, the first edition of Dubai Collections, a two-day event aiming to position the city as a global fashion capital, will feature fashion presentations and runway shows from emerging and celebrated fashion designers in the region.
Although the runway shows and fashion presentations are by invitation only, public visitors who have registered on the website have the opportunity to visit and browse through the innovative pop-up boutiques of six regional accessories brands, namely Bil Arabi, L’Afshar, Nathalie Trad, NS by Noof, Rula Galayani, and Shamsa Alabbar. The Fashion Gallery, which takes visitors through the journey and story of each brand, can also be viewed by the public.
In this exclusive feature, Savoir Flair asks six participating designers, House of Nomad, Dima Ayad, Taller Marmo, Madiyah Al Sharqi, Endemage, and Arwa Al Banawi, about the inspirations behind their Fall/Winter 2016 collection, which will be showcased during this weekend’s event.
Dima Ayad
When asked about her fall/winter collection, Dima Ayad revealed that it was inspired by the “continuous evolution of [her] love for shapes and structure”. Expect designs in her signature monochrome palette with the addition of vivacious reds, purples, and dusty pink.
House of Nomad
Co-founders Ahmed El-Sayed and Saleh Al-Banna looked to the City of Light’s “modern man and woman going about their regular day and the interiors of the Hausmannian apartments” for the collection’s warm color palette.
Taller Marmo
The designers behind Taller Marmo, Riccardo Audisio and Yago Goicoechea, who split their time between Dubai and Italy, were inspired by Cleopatra for this collection. “Not only the Egyptian Queen herself, but the diverse perspectives she represents. With dark-hued silhouettes and a mixture of metallic threads and hardware, the collection flawlessly mixes the mundane with the extraordinary, developing a sense of fierceness,” they share.
Madiyah Al Sharqi
Fujairah-based designer Madiyah Al Sharqi continues to explore her appreciation for sophisticated needlework and beautiful fabrics. For FW16, she juxtaposes her brand’s “delicate design aesthetic with hints of military influence through the use of shearling, lambskin, and leather in contemporary cuts and silhouettes.”
Endemage
Sisters Lubna and Nadia Al Zakwani look once again to their native Oman for FW16. “Oman is an overflow of inspiration and, this time, we picked references from our hometown’s mountains and natural springs. We stayed true to our DNA of flowy, feminine silhouettes, but this season we turned to a stronger color palette and intricate embroidery,” they reveal.
Arwa Al Banawi
Saudi designer Arwa Al Banawi returns to her roots for fall, describing the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as “a symbol of rich heritage and great achievements”. For her fall collection, Al Banawi picked influences from both the country’s olden and modern times.
