Atelier Zuhra Spring 2018 Couture, FFWD, d3. Photo Getty Images
There is a new couture house on the block in Dubai: Atelier Zuhra launched in 2015 by Omani Mousa Al Awfi. At the design helm is her daughter, Rayan Al Sulaimani and creative director Ryan Pacioles. The House made its big debut at Fashion Forward and along with a slew of Arab royals, Nigeria’s First Lady, Aisha Muhammadu Buhari, was also sitting in the front row.
Atelier Zuhra Spring 2018 Couture, FFWD, d3. Photo Getty Images
“Each dress literally takes up a rack,” whispered designer Nabil El-Nayal, as another gown with extraordinary circumference floated down the runway. But if volume was a key component to the dresses, showcasing cinched waists emphasized by hoop skirts befitting a bygone era, the mosaic crystal embellishments, which decorated almost all the tulle dresses, along with sequins, embroidery, and tassels brought the collection not just to the present, but beyond. Meanwhile, shorter or slim fit dresses, which were presented in white, silver, brown, black, and gold, offered practical variations of the theme.
Atelier Zuhra Spring 2018 Couture, FFWD, d3. Photo Getty Images
Atelier Zuhra Spring 2018 Couture, FFWD, d3. Photo Getty Images
This was a memorable first performance from the duo, with a tightly-edited collection that never wavered from its signature. The models shone as their shattered mosaic crystal mirrors—inspired by Barcelona’s Gaudí architecture—caught and reflected the light.
Atelier Zuhra Spring 2018 Couture, FFWD, d3. Photo Getty Images
This is a couture house for today’s Queens, our royals, and pop culture icons. For everyone else, there is the Kira Kira app, available for download.
See the full Atelier Zuhra Spring 2018 collection
Missed the show? Watch the Atelier Zuhra Spring 2018 Couture livestream.
