Palestinian designer Faissal El-Malak launched his namesake ready-to-wear line in June, exclusively at Harvey Nichols. Through his designs, he tells a story of traditional Middle Eastern hand-woven textiles. “I love wearing something that comes from different parts of the world. I want women to feel special when they wear clothing that carries a story,” El-Malak explained.
The Faissal El-Malak Spring 2016 ready-to-wear collection continues the narrative of hand-woven textiles with a focus on Tunisian looms, characterized with striped and chevron patterned silk fabrics in earthy tones of brown, stone, and pink. For this offering, the designer attempted to infuse a sensual mood via skirts, dresses, bralet tops, and airy sheer shirts. His strongest pieces, however, were the more tailored outerwear, like the long, slit-front coat and the patchwork jackets.
Despite the use of traditional materials, the collection featured versatile daywear separates with a contemporary sensibility and elevated through fabrics like taffeta and satin. However, some of the pieces appeared too stiff, like the burgundy dress. El-Malak will present his collection during the annual Vogue Fashion Dubai Experience tonight as part of the “Who is on Next?” designer showcase.
