Photographed by Djinane AlSuwayeh / Triangle Creative. Courtesy of NAS Designs.
During her daily commute to her first job at the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development, Nour Al Sane walked past vast marble partitions featuring arabesque motifs, “I was always fascinated by them and they were very beautiful to look at,” Al Sane tells Vogue Arabia. Little did she know at the time, 12 years later the intricately designed divider structures would serve as a starting point for her accessories brand.
Al Sane debuts the first handbag collection under her rebranded line NAS Designs. Photographed by Djinane AlSuwayeh, the lookbook features noteworthy clutches such as a half-moon silhouette harnessed by a carved wooden frame and a boxy minaudière featuring geometric embroideries that are handcrafted in India.
Photographed by Djinane AlSuwayeh / Triangle Creative. Courtesy of NAS Designs.
This is not Al Sane’s first foray into handbag design. In 2007, she opened a boutique and launched a line under the name Nano Sacchetto. “I always wanted that statement piece that complements an outfit, and because Kuwait is very brand driven, I was trying to steer away from that,” says Al Sane. “I decided to take a three-month handbag course as well as a few textile workshops at Central Saint Martins, and from there, the idea of launching my own business and creating my own bags started.”
She underwent a brand revamp after reflecting on her career. She took a leap of faith and resigned from her telecommunications job and walked away from the corporate world after over a decade. Al Sane took two years off and moved to Paris where she enrolled at Istituto Marangoni to study fashion imagery and communications, and then visual merchandising and buying at the London Collage of Arts. “I wanted to take it up a notch in terms of my business perspective as well as refine my silhouettes with sophisticated designs,” she says. Upon returning to Kuwait last year, Al Sane landed a position at AlOthman where she’s currently part of the luxury multi-brand store’s buying team. Before launching NAS Designs, the brand was picked up by the Reading Room—a shop and interactive workspace powered by Kuwait’s The Yard—located at AlShaheed Park.
