Emirati designer Yasmin Al Mulla––the founder and creative director of womenswear line YNM––has created a limited edition caftan in honor of Colon Cancer Awareness Month this March. Featuring a V-neckline and cropped sleeves, the garment features delicate floral beadwork. Speaking to Vogue Arabia Al Mulla shares: “The navy blue material represents colon cancer, the transparent glass beads reflect purity, pearls attract luck, and the floral embellishments are for blooming hope.”
Named The Noora, after her mother, the story behind this piece is rooted in Al Mulla’s personal struggle. “It all started on a Monday, when my mother was diagnosed with colon cancer. The post-surgery months were hard, and [the] critical healing process was a real battle,” says the designer. “Faith and positivity throughout the journey helped us […] in the darkness during the intense healing path, until we finally witnessed that elusive light at the end of the tunnel.”
The caftan symbolizes her mother’s strength and a reflection of her personal style, laced with optimism and hope. Al Mulla designed the piece with the intention of her mother wearing it on the day she received the all-clear. “The day she was cured brought the biggest joy we have experienced in life. She achieved it. My mother is a survivor.”
On sale via the designer’s website on March 3, a percentage of the sales will go to the Colon Cancer Alliance, a charity organization that helps patients around the world towards their path to recovery.
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