Oman’s First Lady, A’sayeeda Al Jalila Ahd Al Busaidi in a bespoke Amal Al Raisi gown. Photo: Instagram/@imad_hasan
The First Lady of Oman, A’sayeeda Al Jalila Ahd Al Busaidi, recently marked her birthday with her first official portrait. For the occasion, the royal was dressed in a bespoke creation by Omani designer Amal Al Raisi who helms her eponymous brand.
A’sayeeda Al Jalila Ahd Al Busaidi is known for celebrating Omani women by constantly drawing attention to the role women play in building and supporting families and societies. It only makes sense that the First Lady would commission Al Raisi who aims to capture the essence of embracing traditions with a modern twist through her brand. “I wanted to create a timeless piece that would emphasize Sayyida Ahd’s beauty and strength,” shared the designer with Vogue Arabia. “I also wanted it to be a tribute to Oman by representing the uniqueness of our homeland.”
She added: “I spent a lot of time researching different elements of Oman and found inspiration in the traditional outfits of the Musandam Governorate. Handmade embroidery references the beautiful apricot flowers in full bloom found in the village of Wakan.”
The royal and the designer go way back. “Sayyida Ahd has been a loyal client of mine for many years now and has only ever treated me with kindness and respect,” says Al Raisi. She adds, “It was an honor to be given the opportunity to closely collaborate with the Sayyida on this special occasion. It was a very humbling and rewarding experience, she has a real eye for design and beauty making it a very smooth process.”
Read Next: Omani Designer Amal Al Raisi Merges Textures for her FW18 Collection
