This past Art Dubai has showcased exceptional masterpieces complete with astounding prices. But making international headlines is not a painting, nor a sculpture, nor even an installation, but rather, a dress—the world’s most expensive dress, that is, and it just so happens to be an abaya. Designed by seamstress Debbie Wingham, the piece, which is not for sale, is styled after North African and Middle Eastern traditional dress. Wingham told TODAY.com, “[It] is a garment that you can add your own twist to, and providing it is honorable and respectful to the culture, it still leaves a large window to adapt and add your own signature flair.”
Featuring a borrowed, extremely rare, red diamond, appraised at AED 27.2 million, the dress boasts 3,000 stones, including 50 two-carat black diamonds; 50 two-carat white diamonds; 1,899 black-and-white pointer diamonds; and 1,000 pointer rubies. Each of the stones is set in platinum and even the thread used to stitch the gown is 14-carat gold.
On her website, Wingham describes Dubai as her favorite city and the seamstress mentions plans to make it her second home. Her experience making the dress, which can be viewed at the Raffles Hotel Dubai until Monday, inspired Wingham to create an entire collection of contemporary abayas, which will be available in the region soon. Wingham’s “abaya” is bound to raise some questions—and eyebrows—among the international press, all too keen to pigeonhole Middle Eastern consumers as ostentatious, when they are, in fact, often more discreet than their Asian or Russian counterparts. Whether the takeaway sentiment is that Wingham’s abaya is just another gawdy status symbol, or a beautiful couture art piece, is up for discussion. In any case, it certainly sets a precedent for future consumers of her contemporary abaya label.
