Middle Eastern Talent is on the Rise
In the past, fashion in the Middle East only equated to dazzling eveningwear offered by Lebanese designers such as Elie Saab or Zuhair Murad, but 2014 saw the ascension of the new kids on the block, such as clutch designer Nathalie Trad, whose eponymous brand is carried by a growing number of stores around the world; Sarah Beydoun, the creator of Sarah’s Bag; Mochi, whose ethnic ensembles have caught the eye of the Delevingne sisters; Madiyah Al Sharqi, whose collection attracted global influencer Kim Kardashian; and Mohammed Ashi, whose sculptural creations could be seen at the Clooney-Alamuddin wedding. More talents are poised for further success this year, including Doha-based The Kayys and Wadha Al Hajri, and the UAE’s Faiza Bouguessa and House of Nomad. Finally, reigning supreme on the new generation of menswear designers are the Golkar brothers from The Emperor 1688 who are competing as finalists in this year’s Woolmark Prize.
UAE Government Positions Dubai as the New Fashion Hub
“Dubai will rival the fashion capitals of the world in 2020,” was the opening claim of Dubai Design District. TECOM, a governmental real estate developer, is on the verge of opening a full district devoted to hosting and nurturing creatives around the region and has also formed the Dubai Fashion and Design Council to structure the nascent design and fashion markets. Of course, many challenges lie ahead and despite Dubai’s ambitions, no victory can be proclaimed without the advent of successful new designers who can find a voice in the international fashion conversation.
Saudi Arabia’s Fashion Scene Expands
Saudi Arabia has long been very active when it comes to fashion purchases. “The growth in the sector is attributed to [the] high young population and increasing purchasing power in the backdrop of recent economic boom. Growth of this sector is evidenced by the growth of fashion retailers,” reads an article published in the Saudi Gazette. According to the newspaper, in the midst of this expansion lies an oasis of creativity helmed by promising designers, such as Razan Alazzouni, Reem Al Kanhal, Princess Reema Bint Bandar Al Saud, and Nasiba Hafiz. Boutiques like D’NA , Cream Jeddah, Bloom KSA, Maison BO-M, and the Homegrown Market feature Middle Eastern talents alongside international designers, catering to a new generation of customers who are looking to create their own style.
Boutiques Go Big
No doubt our region is the epicenter of many of the world’s superlatives, from the tallest tower to the biggest mall—and the same can be said for boutiques. Take the Level Shoe District, for instance, the largest accessory boutique in the world, which was recently granted the retailer of the year award by Footwear News in New York. International fashion retailer Farfetch, which expanded to the Middle East in March of 2014 by signing D’NA, is poised to develop further within the region in the coming year. Dubai-based boutique Symphony, which has been a leading force behind supporting both contemporary international designers and Middle Eastern talent, increased its online presence with an e-store that secured distribution deals with mega brands like Alexander McQueen and Yves Saint Laurent. And Jeddah-based boutique Dadu Luxe also ventured online with an ambitious project to bring together East and West, as exemplified by its exclusive Olympia Le Tan clutches donning Arabic book covers.
Dubai’s Fashion Events Draw International Attention
When Vogue Italia and Emaar decided to team up for the Vogue Fashion Dubai Experience (VFDE) in October 2013, bringing an enviable guest list (Donatella Versace, Naomi Campbell, and Condé Nast International Chairman and CEO, Jonathan Newhouse, to name a few) to the UAE, it was only the start of a series of prestigious fashion events in the region. In 2014, Chanel hosted its resort show in Dubai while a number of A-listers, including Karolina Kurkova, Peter Dundas, Pier Paolo Piccioli, Maria Grazia Chiuri, and Ciara, attended the second edition of VFDE. 2015 has already started strong with an avalanche of supermodels and celebrities, such as Kendall Jenner, Gigi Hadid, Chanel Iman, Devon Windsor, and Selena Gomez, led by Balmain’s Olivier Rousteing who threw a fabulous bash on Dubai’s beach.
Cairo’s Back
After years of political turmoil, Cairo, once the Arab world’s cultural capital, is making a comeback by regaining the trust of international insignias and hosting fashion events such as Cairo’s Fashion Nights. Led by designers like Azza Fahmy, editors like Pashion Magazine’s Susan Sabet, and global influencers like Christian Louboutin and Elisa Sednaoui, the city is gearing up towards a more brilliant fashion future.
Fashion Forward and Sole DXB “Show Face”
Behind two of the most well-known fashion and lifestyle events in Dubai is Brag, a company headed by entrepreneurs Bong Guerrero and Ramzi Nakad, whose vision is to represent the young generation of designers in the region. In 2014, Fashion Forward’s third and forth seasons showcased talents like Amato, Bashar Assaf, and Madiyah Al Sharqi. Season 5 takes place this April. Sole DXB was an urban lifestyle-focused weekend festival, where the UAE’s coolsters could meet, shop, and create.
New Fashion Icons
While Queen Rania of Jordan and Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al Missned might still hold the titles of the most famous fashion ambassadors of the Middle East, 2014 revealed or strengthened the presence of a new breed of fashion icons. Elegantes like Deena Aljuhani Abdulaziz, whose impeccable style has for years caught the attention of street style photographers and fashion publications around the world; Raya Al Khalifa, a Doha-based vintage fine jewelry collector; and Princess Ameerah Al Taweel are leading the pack. These new princesses of fashion in the Gulf are followed by bloggers like Sheikha Dana Al Khalifa of The Overdressed, Doha-based blogger Desert Mannequin, and Confashions from Kuwait, who merge Eastern and Western influences and shine with good taste. Watch this space.
2014 was a prosperous year for fashion all over the world—in our region, of course, everything happens at three times the speed. And judging by the accelerated pace with which retailers, emerging talents, and fashion events in the Arab world developed over the past 12 months, that trend shows no signs of slowing down.
Here, Style.com/Arabia looks back at the year in fashion in the Middle East.
