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How Reemami and Okhtein Went Global

Today, Farfetch.com cuts the ribbon and launches two special collections from Reemami and Okhtein, winners of the 2016 DDFC/Vogue Arabia Fashion Prize. The Spring 2017 capsules are now available online and in-store in Kuwait at Al Ostoura, Curve boutique in the US, and Browns in London. As part of the Fashion Prize winners’ package, both brands gained support from the retail giant Farfetch, including a retail opportunity, which comes into fruition today. The award-winning regional designers follow in the footsteps of 2015 winners Hussein Bazaza and Hind Matar.

Reemami X Farfetch Spring 2017 capsule. Courtesy of Farfetch

Reemami X Farfetch Spring 2017 capsule. Courtesy of Farfetch

The exclusive Reemami capsule collection from Palestinian born, UAE-based designer Reema Al Banna is an evolution from the debut offering. A riff on Al Banna’s love of climbing –  note the well-placed knits, eyelets, and customisable layering – there’s an inherent whimsy to each key piece. Following on from Al Banna’s creative shoot with fellow ready-to-wear category Fashion Prize contestant Farah Nasri of Hooked | HKD, Al Banna says, “Introducing denim was an incredible experience. Stone washing, cutting, and buttoning was something I thoroughly enjoyed.”

There’s an inherent whimsy to each key piece

In the capsule, we see cotton poplin, silks, and suiting giving the brand a grown-up feel (the in-built edge is still ever-present, though). For the brand’s Farfetch offering, Al Banna added unexpected twists to tailored separates and reworked shirting to high-impact effect. It’s a safe prediction that such pieces will find their way onto the street style circuit.

Okhtein X Farfetch Spring 2017 capsule. Courtesy of Farfetch

Okhtein X Farfetch Spring 2017 capsule. Courtesy of Farfetch

Also in the global e-commerce limelight are the Egyptian sisters Aya and Mounaz Abdelraouf of luxury accessories brand Okhtein. The sister act aptly named their capsule Spring collection ‘Nomadic Citizen.’ Ohktein seeks inspiration from Eastern silhouettes, Old Cairo’s architecture and mosque walls. The result? The elegant geometry of these bags are universally appealing but rooted in Arab heritage, making them prime arm candy for Bab Zuweila nights or Brooklyn struts. From leather to metalwork, the design duo add a signature to different fabrics, skins, and metals – often in one bag, to create contrast.

This is prime arm candy for Bab Zuweila nights or Brooklyn struts

“Being part of the first Fashion Prize under the name of Vogue Arabia is a historical moment for us,” Mounaz Abdelraouf said prior to the winner’s announcement. The brand is now on a platform that has projected it across three continents. “We are delighted to count Reemami and Okhtein as the latest additions to the Farfetch network; giving them a global platform and providing our customers with exclusive access to their SS17 collections. We were impressed by the design talent shown at The Fashion Prize, especially these winning collections,” says Stephanie Horton, chief marketing officer at Farfetch. Do watch this space. Vogue Arabia reveals the two capsule collections by Reemami and Okhtein in the gallery above.

The Reemami and Okhtein for Farfetch collections are now available online and at Al Ostoura in Kuwait from March 28, 2017.

 

Reemami and Hooked | HKD Collaborate. Plus, Okhtein Explores Old Cairo

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