admin2022-01-09T19:43:51+02:00
AbdelGader El Tayeb Al Sadig
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Debut talent
AbdelGader El Tayeb Al Sadig, founder of El Tayeb Nation, hails from Sudan. The young designer describes his womenswear brand as “intemporal” and a cross between “couture and easy-to-wear” that’s intended to empower the wearer. Made in Sudan and reflecting both the history of the great African country and its contemporary identity, El Tayeb Nation offers varied looks in bright colors, enhanced with glittering jewels and intricate embroidery.
AbdelGader El Tayeb Al Sadig, founder of El Tayeb Nation, [...]
admin2022-01-09T19:44:00+02:00
Agustín Nicolás Rivero
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Guest Country - Columbia
Agustín Nicolás Rivero’s label, A New Cross, is handcrafted in Colombia. Driven by the idea that garments should essentially function as a living space – one that comforts and protects – Agustín merges his South American heritage with a minimalist ethos when imagining his designs. His clothes – for women, men and unisex – celebrate diversity and freedom of identity. The Colombian designer also supports fair working conditions, ensuring that his garments are always ethically produced, while espousing rural and urban community values.
Agustín Nicolás Rivero’s label, A New Cross, is handcrafted in [...]
admin2022-01-09T19:51:05+02:00
AHMED SEROUR
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Debut talent
Ahmed Serour is a non-conforming genderless brand playing with cultural aesthetics, while trying to upcycle Egyptian heritage along with street style and pop culture visions. The clothes are infused with high-end, yet playful garments that remain true to their origins, traits, and values, while being ethically and environmentally conscious. More importantly, the Ahmed Serour label captures the MENA region’s youthful Western outlook through funky, playful, genderless attire, with clothing that respects differences and embraces bold choices. “I’ve always been trying to use my skills and practices, which I learned as a multidisciplinary artist and designer, working with both male and female bodies, to blur the line between genders,” says Ahmed. “I create my garments using different techniques, pattern cutting and design details inspired from both menswear and womenswear, in order to construct these bricolage attires.”
Ahmed Serour is a non-conforming genderless brand playing with cultural [...]
admin2022-01-09T19:40:27+02:00
Alejandro González and Andrés Restrepo
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Guest Country - Columbia
Colombian designers Alejandro González and Andrés Restrepo launched Alado in 2013. Conceived as a dialogue between art and fashion, the womenswear label shimmers with complex structures that tell ancient stories, and pieces that reflect arduous molding work and silhouette development. Both subtle and romantic, Alado clothes stand out for their emphasis on exquisite baroque details. Alejandro and Andrés hail from the fashion-forward Colombian city of Medellin.
Colombian designers Alejandro González and Andrés Restrepo launched Alado in [...]
admin2022-01-09T19:51:16+02:00
ALEXANDRA HAKIM
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Jewelry
Alexandra Hakim is a British-Lebanese jewelry maker and designer whose innovative craftsmanship, thought-provoking designs and dedication to sustainability have gained her an international cult following. She completed an art foundation at London’s Central Saint Martins before earning her BFA in jewelry and metalsmithing at the Rhode Island School of Design, where she specialized in design innovation. She launched her eponymous brand in Beirut, Lebanon, in 2016 making waves on the jewelry scene, infiltrating and gaining the respect of the predominantly male industry of craftsmen and metalsmiths thanks to her technical prowess and unique methods. Each Alexandra Hakim collections centers on found materials and objects, which would otherwise go to waste – often straight from Beirut’s bustling markets themselves – but which in her hands are given a new lease of life and meticulously repurposed into striking, contemporary pieces of jewelry, of which no two pieces are the same.
Alexandra Hakim is a British-Lebanese jewelry maker and designer whose innovative craftsmanship, [...]
Elie Abou Mefleh2022-07-18T11:29:40+03:00
Alexandra Hakim
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Jewelry
Alexandra Hakim is a British-Lebanese jewelry maker and designer whose innovative craftsmanship, thought-provoking designs and dedication to sustainability have gained her an international following. She completed an Art Foundation course at Central Saint Martins before gaining a BFA in Jewelry and Metalsmithing at the Rhode Island School of Design, where she focused on design innovation and developed her experimental making process.
She moved to Beirut, Lebanon, in 2016 where she launched her brand and immediately infiltrated the jewelry scene, gaining the respect of the predominantly male industry of craftsmen and goldsmiths, thanks to her technical prowess and unique methods.
Each of Alexandra Hakim’s collections centers on found materials and consumed objects which would otherwise go to waste - often straight from Lebanon’s local food markets - but which, in her hands, are given a new lease of life and meticulously repurposed into striking, contemporary handmade pieces.
Alexandra Hakim is a British-Lebanese jewelry maker and designer whose [...]
admin2022-01-09T19:43:45+02:00
Alia Bin Omair
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Jewelry
Dubai-based jewelry designer Alia Bin Omair creates distinctive pieces inspired by traditional crafts that focus on materials, textures and their relationship to their cultural surroundings. The UAE native has participated in a number of mentorship programs, with such organizations as the Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council, Sharjah, in collaboration with the London College of Fashion, and with celebrated Egyptian jewelry designer Azza Fahmy. Her eponymous jewelry brand includes such collections as Leaf, featuring pieces made by gold-casting leaves, and Safeefa, a collaboration-based commission with Bedouin weavers.
Dubai-based jewelry designer Alia Bin Omair creates distinctive pieces inspired [...]
admin2022-01-09T19:53:28+02:00
AMNA ALSALEM
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Ready-to-wear
Amna Alsalem grew up in Kuwait. She's the daughter of an art collector and homeware designer, and she taught herself to craft bespoke designs by hand. After finishing university, where she studied business, she went to London and took courses at Istituto Marangoni. These formative years find their way into each piece in her collections, informing her signature fusion of East and West – modern elegance with an exotic edge.
Unaffected by transient fashion trends, Amna Alsalem designs her garments to embody her own perception of beauty, taking fashion back to its roots as an art form: a true expression of self. This lends her creations a timelessness that cannot be replicated.
Specializing in women’s formalwear, Amna Alsalem’s eponymous designs are produced in Kuwait using the highest-quality fabrics, sourced from Paris and Milan. Showing painstaking attention to detail, her collections exhibit the old-world craftsmanship of traditional couture.
Her work was featured in Vogue Arabia, L’Officiel and Marie Claire. Harper's Bazaar called her collection, “prettier than pretty” in their Star of the Future feature.
Amna Alsalem grew up in Kuwait. She's the daughter of an art [...]
Elie Abou Mefleh2022-07-18T11:39:23+03:00
Amna Alsalem
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Evening wear
AMNA ALSALEM is an exclusive brand that renders it’s own articulations of art, time and humanity from a multidisciplinary practice that is made for the free. With a mix sense of freedom and witty spirit, AMNA ALSALEM is Devoted to creating an ethical luxury brand.
Born, raised and based in Kuwait, Graduated with a bachelor degree in business administration and management information system. After university Amna perused training at central Saint Martin, London college of fashion and institute Marangoni. While specializing in Fashion, Amna also experienced sculpting and painting which led her to dive into the world of interiors, print, photography and luxury events.
This fueled the influence to create fashion with a multifaceted base and surface that’s unaffected by trends and often involving, architecture, art, literature and a bit of technology.
AMNA ALSALEM is an exclusive brand that renders it’s own [...]
Elie Abou Mefleh2022-10-27T00:03:39+03:00
Artsi Ifrach
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Evening wear
Marrakech resident, Artsi Ifrach is a fashion designer who is better known as Maison ARTC in the fashion world. On a quest for independence, Ifrach has found his sanctuary in Morocco and has been actively creating his “one of a kind” collections since. Artsi – meaning ‘My Country’ in Hebrew and Arabic – lived in Tel Aviv, Paris and Amsterdam before settling in Morocco and has an extensive understanding of multiculturalism. Using colors and prints as his landscape, Artsi’s imaginative designs reflect on space and time. He started fashion designing at the age of 28 while he was living in Amsterdam. From there, he moved to Paris where he was represented by 2m Bureau, showing in the Haute Couture Week.
Today, living and working from Marrakech, his parents’ hometown, he also collaborates with local photographers such as Laila Hida and Mous Lamrabat. With Lamrabat he created an artistic duo called @artsimous, a collaboration of photography that tells a story of cultural crossover, where the inspiration comes from culture, history and art. His goal is to keep the picture as something timeless, that remains long after the collection is finished. “I believe that fashion is a part of art that tells something about, in a period that meets culture and individuality. I am an autodidact, I do not work with design skills, I am working just with creativity and intuition,” he says.
His influences come from history, culture and traditions and he searches the past in order to carry on into the future. He is known for his rich, colorful and eclectic style. “I am trying, through the material that surrounds me, to create a story that captures culture, memories, and artisanal work. The materials I am using are vintage and handmade. I create my pieces with a total freedom, it comes from the state of mind I have at that moment. The point is to be respectful of the past, of the culture and to bring something warmer. In my pieces, I want to create a memory that moves me emotionally. Vintage fabrics can match past and present together. Colors, patterns and prints are my landscape.”
Napoleon said once “there is a thin line between the ridiculous
and the sublime” and, according to Ifrach, he is searching for this line every time, in every piece. “I am always thinking about what we would like to have that we do not have yet, as a result, I believe that the strongest part we all have is our individuality. That is what I am trying to do with “one-of-a- kind” pieces, as we all are “one-of-a- kind,”” he says.
Marrakech resident, Artsi Ifrach is a fashion designer who is [...]
admin2022-01-09T19:43:39+02:00
Azza Skhiri Bouchamaoui
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Jewelry
Azza Skhiri Bouchamaoui’s jewelry brand is inspired by the Queen of Carthage. Named Didon – after the founder of the Phoenician empire of Carthage – the label is a tribute to strong women, with sculptural pieces made from quality materials. The Python ring, for example, adorned with black and white diamonds and pink sapphires, is a statement piece that works for both nighttime and daytime wear. Azza hails from Tunisia.
Azza Skhiri Bouchamaoui’s jewelry brand is inspired by the Queen [...]
admin2022-01-09T19:51:42+02:00
AZZI & OSTA
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Evening wear
Azzi & Osta, the brainchild of designers George Azzi and Assaad Osta, is a couture house that began to take shape when the duo joined Esmod Beirut in 2004. They graduated top of their class, with Azzi awarded the Prize of the President of the Jury (Elie Saab) and Osta awarded the Prize of the July. Afterward they worked at Elie Saab for 18 months. With their common interest in mid-century inspirations and vintage art, they decided to launch their couture house together in 2010.
Their expert manipulation of fabrics gave rise to structured, swirly volumes and contoured silhouettes. Their vintage style has a contemporary twist, which, combined with the delicate embellishments and embroideries, resulted in impactful creations for the modern sophisticated and glamorous woman who also appreciates tradition. Their creations of unique, elegant and eclectic couture tailored for the modern woman have caught the eye of a number of international celebrities such as Beyoncé, Cardi B and Kendall Jenner.
Azzi & Osta launched their first ready-to-wear collection in Paris for spring-summer 2019. The collection was immediately bought by prestigious boutiques in London, Paris, Hong Kong, Dubai, Kuwait, Bahrain, Lebanon, Qatar, Saudi and Oman.
Azzi & Osta, the brainchild of designers George Azzi and [...]
admin2022-01-09T19:53:20+02:00
BASSCOUTUR
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Ready-to-wear
Since 2008, Basscoutur founder and artistic director Riad Trabelsi has been activating the idea of re-using and re-interpreting classics using recycled fabrics and vintage pieces. Basscoutur features designs that embrace a minimalistic and maximalist aesthetic viewpoint. The brand twists the obvious and revisits the pieces and their material to grant them a new lease on life. Inspired by the eco-responsible concept of upcyling, Basscoutur questions the notion of clothing’s timelessness while respecting the environment and the era.
Since 2008, Basscoutur founder and artistic director Riad Trabelsi has [...]
admin2022-01-09T19:51:21+02:00
BAZZA ALZOUMAN
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Evening wear
Kuwaiti designer Bazza Alzouman was born in Charleston, South Carolina and discovered her interest in design early on, taking up sewing classes while studying for a degree in business administration at Boston University. In 2011, she moved to New York to pursue her passion at Parsons School of Design and earned an AAS Degree in fashion design while working alongside Naeem Khan to develop her skills and forge her own path in eveningwear. In 2014 she moved back to Kuwait to launch her eponymous label and establish her atelier. Bazza aspires to bridge the gap between evening ready-to-wear and couture by adopting advanced construction techniques for the creation of each piece. Season after season, her understated aesthetic foregoes overt opulence in favor of ethereal, pared-down silhouettes that exude modern elegance through texture, shape and color.
Kuwaiti designer Bazza Alzouman was born in Charleston, South Carolina [...]
admin2022-01-09T19:51:25+02:00
BEIGE
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Ready-to-wear
Launched in 2017 by Muna al Othaiman, contemporary womenswear brand Beige fuses clean silhouettes with impeccable tailoring, evoking timeless modernity. Sophisticated yet effortless, the brand seamlessly blends versatile shapes with minimalist details, exuding understated elegance. With a focus on luxurious fabrics and the perfect fit, Beige continually finds new ways to reinvent tailored separates.
After studying fashion design at ESMOD Dubai in 2013 and 2014, Muna channeled her vision of relaxed yet luxurious style into the creation of Beige. Inspired by her background in graphic design and art, she experiments with intricate embellishments, voluminous shapes and fresh colors. Mixing couture details with modern separates, Beige has an understated sensibility transcending seasons.
Launched in 2017 by Muna al Othaiman, contemporary womenswear brand [...]
admin2022-01-09T19:41:56+02:00
Bilal Fellah
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Accessories
Bilal Fellah’s eyewear brand is inspired by the Moroccan coastal city of Tangier, where the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean come into heady contact. Named Port Tanger, the label is an ode to the sun-drenched lifestyle of that Moroccan city, with collections bearing such names as Leila, Mektoub and Tangerine – the fruit after which the city was named. Bilal is of Moroccan and Algerian descent.
Bilal Fellah’s eyewear brand is inspired by the Moroccan coastal [...]
admin2022-01-09T19:46:59+02:00
BORN IN EXILE
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Ready-to-wear
Inspired by Libya’s rich and unexplored culture and traditions Born in Exile is a luxury ready-to-wear label created in 2018. The name represents the designer and founder of the brand, Ibrahim Shebani, who as the brand name suggests was himself born in exile. The brand speaks to women with a strong sense of style and unparalleled aura. The story behind Ibrahim’s creations is to embed the complex political history of his motherland, Libya, in modern interpretations of traditional silhouettes and exceptional craftsmanship. “As a designer of the brand, I aspire to interpret the heritage of my country through strong designs and statement pieces that define the undiscovered beauty of Libya, my eternal muse,” says Ibrahim.
Inspired by Libya’s rich and unexplored culture and traditions Born [...]
admin2022-01-09T19:51:39+02:00
BOYFRIEND
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Ready-to-wear
Amine Jreissati grew up in a Lebanese family with an acute affinity toward fashion. After a Bachelor's in business hospitality from the Lebanese American University (LAU) in Beirut, he went on to obtain a Master’s degree in fashion design from Istituto Marangoni. Since then, he has been living, breathing and working the fashion industry.
Amine kicked off his career with a five-year stint as head of the fashion department at Marie Claire Arabia, after which he became a freelance art director for luxury brands such as Chanel, Dior, Prada and Bulgari, and as a stylist for select regional and global celebrities.
Having worked closely with an array of talented photographers, as well as with reputable regional online and print publications, Amine has produced high-caliber visual shoots and acclaimed editorial content, thus building strong relationships with the local and international press.
In October of 2017, he launched his own label, Boyfriend, which consists of capsule-like collections that are minimal, subliminal and gender invisible. He created a special capsule in collaboration with regional influencer and style icon Dana Hourani. His brand has gained a following among the fashion-savvy Beirut and Dubai crowds, garnering such high-profile fans such as Queen Rania of Jordan.
Amine Jreissati grew up in a Lebanese family with an acute [...]
Elie Abou Mefleh2022-07-18T12:17:52+03:00
Bünyamin Aydın
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Guest Country: Turkey
Bünyamin Aydin was born in Neuss, Germany, and relocated to Istanbul, Turkey, at age 12. The Les Benjamins brand is a coalescence of founder and designer Bünyamin Aydin’s interests in drawing, photography, and art.“The brand is a touchpoint for people to enter our world. I want people to feel part of our movement, which begins with the East,”he says.In2017, Aydin’s work caught the attention of Nike and he was commissioned to be part of a global campaign titled Vote Forward; where he was selected as 1 of 12 designers to imagine the future of AirMax. This partnership later developed into a program of custom AirForce 1s,whereNike commissioned Aydin to create 100 Istanbul-inspired Air Force 1s, sold at a pop-up event. These projects positioned Aydin as Turkey’s foremost sneaker authority, and a collector whose eye drifts towards limited edition and autographed pieces. Aydin is a passionate photographer and a proud ambassador of Leica. He also spends his spare time as a music curator and a DJ, both internationally and in his hometown of Istanbul. While Aydin is firmly rooted in his Turkish heritage, he is also an avid traveller and explorer.
Bünyamin Aydin was born in Neuss, Germany, and relocated to [...]
Elie Abou Mefleh2022-10-27T00:42:06+03:00
Burç Akyol
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Guest Country: Turkey
Burç Akyol, 32, was born in Dreux, France to Turkish parents. He was raised in a household headed by strong women: his mother, two sisters and aunt. They had a lasting impact on Akyol, who as a male outsider to this realm of oriental women observed and interpreted gestures, dress codes and ways of speaking so as to gain passage into their world. "I would wear black because they always did and apply kohl on my eyes to say “I want to be with you”,” says the designer.
His father, a tailor, subcontracted for Parisian couture houses and worked from home, where Akyol's bedroom was also the atelier. Akyol watched his father and learnt how to craft garments and sew, educating himself in the rigorous artisanal work of tailoring.
Moving to Paris in 2005 to study fashion at l'Institut Français de la Mode, Akyol worked multiple side jobs and sold his paintings to pay for his studies. Leaving school in 2006, he gained experience at Christian Dior under John Galliano, Balenciaga under Nicolas Ghesquière and at Emanuel Ungaro with Esteban Cortazar. In 2014, he was named head of collections at Cortazar's namesake brand.
In 2019, Akyol decided to launch his own label and debuted a genderless artisanal collection celebrating feminine seduction in both women and men, creating a wardrobe for "sexy tragédien-nes" as the designer explains. His pieces are always very revealing and austere at the same time, whispering hot and cold, just like the women he grew up with.
Burç Akyol’s work is not seasonal; his collections are styled COLL 01 PART 01, 02, etc. This is because he is building a language close to Haute Couture, which takes time. When he designs, he taps into his obsessions for Cariatides, dramatic glamour and his love for black tuxedo-tailoring which Akyol says is "the perfect uniform".
He also references female leadership and his multicultural heritage in a constant dialogue between his urban European upbringing and his Oriental roots: a mixture that he finds is best visible around the Mediterranean’s volcanic coasts, where Akyol spends his summers on the island of Pantelleria.
In harmony with his love for craftsmanship, each piece is either hand-finished or entirely hand-made at his studio in the 8th arrondissement of Paris. Akyol values his wearer above all and is in constant search to offer them both maintenance and seduction: he says he is "distant-flirting" with his customers.
His collections have been featured internationally with high profile personalities wearing his pieces starting with Cardi B and Zendaya for the British Vogue and the launch of his collection first collection was covered by Vogue Talents for Vogue Italy. With his latest addition to COLL 01, Akyol staged his first physical show in Paris on March 21st for Fall Winter 2022.
Burç Akyol, 32, was born in Dreux, France to Turkish [...]
Elie Abou Mefleh2022-07-18T16:39:00+03:00
Ceylin Türkkan Bilge
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Guest Country: Turkey
Founder and Designer of SIEDRES
Ceylin Türkkan Bilge was born and raised in the fashion world. With her family owning a textile factory in Bursa, Türkkan Bilge was able to catch her first glimpse of the ins and out of the industry and quickly realized that she had a talent for design.
After studying fashion design in Istanbul for two years, Türkkan Bilge continued her college education by attending the prestigious Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, where she earned a degree in Fashion Design. While living in the competitive city, she worked for a few well-known brands, such as Adam Lippes. Shortly after finishing her education, she returned to Istanbul to continue her dreams and began to work as an art director and graphic designer.
Türkkan Bilge’s experience in art direction, graphics and fashion design have aided her in the creation of her own label. She dreamed of a brand that encompassed a utopian lifestyle. However, it was not until she met her husband and now co-founder, Emir, that SIEDRES came to light.
Türkkan Bilge currently resides in Istanbul with her husband where she designs all of SIEDRES’ Mediterranean-inspired styles.
Founder and Designer of SIEDRES Ceylin Türkkan Bilge was born [...]
Elie Abou Mefleh2022-07-18T11:24:04+03:00
Claudia Khachan
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Debut talent
SaintBalech
Located on the coast of Beirut, Saint Balech was named by the people for the people, in reaction to the expensive private beaches of the capital. It was a symbol of freedom and a place for everyone and anyone. Claudia Khachan wanted to revive this concept within the fashion industry, with SaintBalech as a collective and a brand where anyone and everyone is welcome as they are. As a young Lebanese fashion designer, Khachan wants to offer the youth not only a brand, but a new platform of unrestricted and free expression in the MENA region. SaintBalech believes in new alternatives such as up-cycling, a means of local production capable of remaining sustainable over the years while focusing on minimal waste.
SaintBalech Located on the coast of Beirut, Saint Balech was [...]
admin2022-01-09T19:45:18+02:00
Cynthia Merhej
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Ready-to-wear
Lebanese fashion designer Cynthia Merhej trained at both Central Saint Martins and the Royal College of Art in London. Through her label Renaissance Renaissance, which she founded in 2016, the Beirut-born designer offers a contemporary reinvention of female couture heritage. Her carefully constructed ready-to-wear collections are stylish, sustainable and created with the careful detailing.
Lebanese fashion designer Cynthia Merhej trained at both Central Saint [...]
Elie Abou Mefleh2022-07-18T11:27:09+03:00
Dalila Barkache
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Jewelry
Raised in the Parisian suburbs, Dalila Barkache is a jewelry maker and designer of Moroccan origin with inspirations and experiences that stem from the four corners of the world. Her name resonates loud and clear in the underground, unconventional and progressive world of design.
She quickly launched her career after graduating with a degree in Jewelry Design from the renowned École de la Rue du Louvre in 2002 by collaborating with distinguished jewelry houses. She left Paris for Beirut’s electric creative environment and cultivated her love for fashion by styling for top magazines, while influencing the city’s fashion milieu by inaugurating its very first Comme des Garçons guerilla store in 2006.
2011 was a momentous year for Barkache as she gathered up her energy to launch the very first collection of her eponymous jewelry brand. Meticulously handcrafted in a small atelier in Beirut, her designs defy the traditional norms of jewelry making to take on wild, edgy and unconventionally playful shapes.
Through her arrangements, she emphasizes the omnipresence of movement and geometry by merging mobile and fixed structures, creating an atypically elegant swing effect. Her subtle combinations of 18-carat gold and cooler matte 925 silver set with diamonds and precious stones offer a complex, contemporary take on classical fine jewelry. Her origins have a direct influence on her work. She mirrors traditional ceremonial Berber ornaments and embellishes the details with modern romantic rock and roll accents. Her creations are an extension of her being. Mixing ethnicity with simplicity, her designs are exclusively retailed at the concept store Dover Street Market in London, New York and Ginza, as well as in the prestigious online boutique Sancy & Regent. She is today on the verge of launching a new, long-awaited collection.
Raised in the Parisian suburbs, Dalila Barkache is a jewelry [...]
admin2022-01-09T19:41:41+02:00
Dania Shinkar
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Accessories
Saudi Arabian designer Dania Shinkar launched her handcrafted bag label in 2019. Wanting to create bags that would be unique – and a far cry from mass-market accessories – Dania sought skilled artisans to produce bags made from ethically sourced leather and adorned with signature metal frames and cellulose acetate handles. Dania possesses a BA and an MA from the London College of Fashion.
Saudi Arabian designer Dania Shinkar launched her handcrafted bag label [...]
admin2022-01-09T19:51:36+02:00
DONNA HOURANI
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Jewelry
Lebanese-born fine jewelry designer Donna Hourani launched her eponymous brand in August 2016, after earning a degree from the Gemmology Institute of America. Reflecting the designer's passion for creating honest, high-quality handcrafted works of wearable art, Donna Hourani pieces tell inspiring stories set to impact the soul and elegantly adorn those who wear them.
Donna Hourani pieces have already been spotted on royalty and celebrities, including Queen Rania of Jordan and Bella Hadid, and they've been featured in key media including Vogue Paris, the Financial Times, Vogue España, Vogue Arabia, Harper’s Bazaar Arabia and Grazia magazine.
Ethically sourcing gemstones handpicked by herself, Donna works with the most skilled artisans in Dubai to create pieces that portray stories greater than their existence. The collections stem from sentimental memories of the simple joys in life, and the purity of love and nature.
Lebanese-born fine jewelry designer Donna Hourani launched her eponymous brand [...]
Elie Abou Mefleh2022-07-18T11:33:50+03:00
Duha Bukadi
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Accessories
Pupchen is an outburst from—and an invitation into—the unusual, decadent, uncompromising universe of young Tunisian designer and architect, Duha Bukadi. Pupchen is her aesthetic revenge on a world of resigned adults, tedious routines, and flat personalities. As an architect, Bukadi always loved navigating the mix of structure, utility, and aesthetics in every building she designed. This is what she likes about building shoes, too: the savoir faire (structure), the comfort (utility), and the fantasy (aesthetics).
Tunis-based Bukadi draws constant inspiration from her surroundings: her daughter’s toys, her vivid dreams, and the unexpected poetry of everyday life. She’s a storyteller, and shoes are her medium. Bukadi wants shoes to be playful, fun, and, at the same time, the height of chic. Pupchen shoes are imagined and designed at the Pupchen offices in Tunisia. Then prototypes are made in Maison Massaro, part of Chanel’s Métiers d’Art, in Paris. Production takes place at Nillab, a well-known footwear manufacturing firm based in the Riviera del Brenta, Italy.
Pupchen is a pet name. The late French singer and poet Georges Brassens gave it to his lover and muse, Joha Heiman. Brassens and Heiman were each other’s obsession for 30 years from the time they met in Paris until Brassens’ death in 1981. Pupchen comes from the German for “little doll.” But a love like Brassens’ and Heiman’s is not diminutive or conventional. Never married, never living together, their passion for each other was expansive in its contradictions. Brassens famously sang in awe of Heiman, “I made myself small (before a doll).” When told that she lived in Brassens’ shadow, Heiman would respond that she lived in his light. Pupchen is a doll who plays with the world. Not the other way around.
Pupchen is an outburst from—and an invitation into—the unusual, decadent, [...]
Elie Abou Mefleh2022-10-27T00:39:54+03:00
Eilaf Osman
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Accessories
Brand Bio
EILAF is a contemporary luxury handbag brand that combines high quality craftsmanship and Sudanese artisanal motifs to create a visual twist. The brand's foundation manifests from founder Eilaf Osman's desire to deeply connect with strong childhood memories of summers spent in Sudan, with her grandmother and her cousins, drinking tea in the garden and telling tribal folk stories. EILAF explores notions of identity based on the expressiveness of tribal art and seeks to uplift marginalized tribal art forms in the region. EILAF's values are centered around the preservation of Sudanese heritage and the use of traditional artistry codes that are inherently sustainable.
Brand Bio EILAF is a contemporary luxury handbag brand that [...]
admin2022-01-09T19:53:45+02:00
ÈLBÉ
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Accessories
ÈLBÉ is a Franco-Tunisian brand that offers a wardrobe of accessories designed and handmade in Mediterranean countries, using mainly upcycled materials. The brand, which was created by Nour Ben Cheikh and Clémentine Lecointre, combines multicultural inspirations, simple forms and artisanal know-how. The two women design accessories that combine simple shapes and a graphic identity of multicultural inspiration with luxurious craftsmanship. ÈLBÉ means my heart in Arabic and stands for the two founders’ initials. The logo consists of an L and B joined together to form a heart.
ÈLBÉ is a Franco-Tunisian brand that offers a wardrobe of [...]
admin2022-01-09T19:41:34+02:00
Eli Mizrahi
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Evening wear
Eli Mizrahi’s eveningwear label Mônot exudes sense and sensuality. Designed with glamorous backdrops in mind, Eli’s lush gowns shimmer with unabashed sexiness – as was most notably evident in his debut fashion campaign, which featured the legendary Kate Moss donning Mônot dresses in Saudi Arabia’s magnificent city of AlUla. Born in Beirut, the Lebanese designer is now based in New York but produces the bulk of his eveningwear in Lebanon.
Eli Mizrahi’s eveningwear label Mônot exudes sense and sensuality. Designed [...]
admin2022-01-09T19:49:37+02:00
EMERGENCY ROOM
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Ready-to-wear
Eric Mathieu Ritter launched Emergency Room in Beirut in 2018 as a clothing brand with a mind of its own. Stemming from the belief that fashion production processes urgently need to change, Emergency Room utilizes a sustainable and ethical alternative to clothing creation. The label uses unique vintage materials and dead-stock fabrics that are locally sourced to create one-of-a-kind pieces, providing an ethically conscious and authentic ready-to-wear-line. All items are produced in different workshops and cooperatives throughout Lebanon, inviting skilled artisans with varied skills to participate in the process, all the while lobbying for grassroots changes in the industry.
Eric Mathieu Ritter launched Emergency Room in Beirut in 2018 [...]
admin2022-01-09T19:49:33+02:00
FATIMA ALBAKER
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Debut talent
Fatima AlBaker, who hails from Qatar, always dreamed of being a fashion designer. She's a 2019 graduate from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, in the United States.
Fatima AlBaker, who hails from Qatar, always dreamed of being [...]
Elie Abou Mefleh2022-10-27T00:41:14+03:00
Fatma Mostafa
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Jewelry
Fatma Mostafa is an artist and jewelry designer experimenting across a wide range of media.
In 2017, she founded her own jewelry brand. In moving through oil painting, embroidery, and photography, her work takes a multi-disciplinary approach, posing questions of our relationship to materials. She combines mediums and incorporates natural materials in both her paintings and designs. Her artistic background makes her think of her jewelry as pieces of art that she gets to share with others.
She has been part of many group exhibitions, The Girl’s Window in 2022, Roznama 8 in 2021, the "Lost, found, eternal" workshop and exhibition in 2018, and The Youth Salon in both 2017 and 2018.
Fatma Mostafa jewelry was born out of a love for fine art, fashion, and traditional crafts, like embroidery. Mostafa was introduced to embroidery by her mother, and as a young girl it was the first medium she was trained in but she never gave it much thought. Mostafa later pursued fine arts, and through oil painting discovered a fascination with colors and landscapes, and developed a curiosity for experimenting with the potentials of the medium. As she continued experimenting with different mediums, she rediscovered her love of embroidery and her interest in jewelry design, and in mixing both, she founded her brand. Like painting, the beauty of embroidery comes from the time, care and deliberate effort it takes to create a piece, she believes.
Through her work, Mostafa was taught to cherish patience and see the beauty in slowness as a piece unveils itself. She strives to create pieces that are original works of art, where you can clearly see the value and beauty of nature and the endless potential of patient human hands with colorful threads.
Fatma Mostafa is an artist and jewelry designer experimenting across [...]
admin2022-01-09T19:51:32+02:00
HAMZA GUELMOUSS
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Ready-to-wear
Hamza Guelmouss is a 24-year-old emerging Moroccan fashion designer whose brand combines a downtown grungy yet luxurious vibe with a fetish for black and leather. After graduating at the top of his class from Casamoda Academy fashion school in Casablanca in 2015, Hamza had the opportunity to intern for Julien Fournié haute couture and discover the creative scene in Paris. His first collection, Dystopia 3.0, garnered pan-African recognition as the winner of the 2015 ELLE rising star competition in South Africa, as well as the 10th edition of FIMA-Africa contest in Niger in 2016. Hamza went on to collaborate with the South African retailer MRP to launch a successful range in 2017.
In parallel with his consultancies and collaborations in Morocco’s denim field, Hamza’s time and energy are devoted to crafting empowering pieces that push boundaries and question society, gender and youth culture via subverting the codes of luxury and fashion.
Hamza Guelmouss is a 24-year-old emerging Moroccan fashion designer whose brand [...]
admin2022-01-09T19:41:29+02:00
Harith Hashim
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Evening wear
Of mixed Iraqi and Lebanese descent, Harith Hashim strikes a delicate balance between minimalist sophistication and pure femininity to create his designs. Under the Harithand eveningwear label, which he launched in 2012, he imagines flowing dresses in either muted tones or explosive colors that are Red Carpet-worthy. Enthralled with art and design ever since he could remember, Harith went against his mother’s wishes to study medicine and made it a point to pursue his love of fashion.
Of mixed Iraqi and Lebanese descent, Harith Hashim strikes a [...]
admin2022-01-09T19:41:22+02:00
Haya Al Abdulkareem
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Accessories
Folklore is a handbag label founded in 2014 by Kuwaiti designer Haya Al Abdulkareem. A Central Saint Martins graduate, Haya creates capsule collections with limited pieces every season, focusing on artisan craftsmanship. Inspired by art, design, history and tradition, each Folklore bag combines a geometric shape with modern aesthetics, while offering optimum functionality.
Folklore is a handbag label founded in 2014 by Kuwaiti [...]
admin2022-01-09T19:51:28+02:00
HUSSEIN BAZAZA
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Evening wear
Beirut-born Hussein Bazaza developed an appreciation for all artistic fields at a young age, eventually enrolling at ESMOD Beirut to study fashion. Upon graduation in 2011, Bazaza started with an internship at Maison Rabih Kayrouz in Paris, and later worked for Elie Saab as a junior designer, before launching his first ready-to-wear collection in 2012, which was selected by the Starch Foundation. At age 23 Hussein opened his first showroom and atelier in Beirut.
Hussein was named Best Upcoming Middle East Designer by the ELLE Style Awards in 2013. In 2015, he was named Best Emerging Designer at The Middle East Fashion Awards, and he was also selected as one of the winners of Who Is On Next? in Dubai by Vogue Italia. The following year, he was the inaugural winner of the Style.com/Arabia – DDFC Fashion Prize, with the launch of his capsule collection on Farfetch.com in spring 2016.
Beirut-born Hussein Bazaza developed an appreciation for all artistic fields at a [...]
admin2022-01-09T19:47:04+02:00
ILYES OUALI
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Evening wear
Algerian designer Ilyes Ouali launched his eponymous brand in 2016. The label was born out of Ilyes’ love for 1970s styles and the “it” girls of that era. The brand offers classic styles with a splash of glamour – a collection of statement pieces that are special enough to stand out, while also sporting timeless flair. The Ilyes Ouali customer is an independent, successful woman who boasts strong family values, while appreciating the designer’s focus on diversity, inclusivity and sustainability. Ilyes founded the brand with support from his family: his mom runs the embroidery studio in Algeria that makes every custom order and the embellishments of every sample, and his sister is in charge of sourcing fabrics and embellishments. She also supervises production units around the world and travels to factories to check quality and make sure that all clothes are made in an ethical manner. Initially focusing on eveningwear, the designer plans to build a lifestyle brand and to diversify into other product areas.
Algerian designer Ilyes Ouali launched his eponymous brand in 2016. [...]
admin2022-01-09T19:49:29+02:00
INTISSAR BAIZ
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Debut talent
Moroccan fashion designer Intissar Baiz creates experimental, wildly colorful clothes that capture North Africa's dynamic fashion aesthetic. A graduate of Casablanca-based Casamoda Academy, she represented Morocco in the 11th International Festival of African Fashion (FIMA) in 2018.
Moroccan fashion designer Intissar Baiz creates experimental, wildly colorful clothes [...]
admin2022-01-09T19:53:33+02:00
JOANNA LAURA CONSTANTINE
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Jewelry
Joanna Laura Constantine is the creative force behind her eponymous luxury accessories brand. Her fascination with fashion, jewelry and accessories drove her to the Parsons School of Design, where she obtained a degree in fashion design. After graduation, she held a series of internships at a number of renowned design studios. Her time working in fashion houses such as Donna Karan NY, Lanvin and Nicole Miller marked her creative growth. Soon after in 2010, she launched her own line of fashion jewelry and moved back to Beirut to set up her studio and workshop.
Joanna designs with a great deal of whimsy. Her eclectic collections range from the sweet, delicate and sensual to the ultra-edgy and bold. Embracing the duality of a woman, her works represent the feminine as well as the more contemporary, with an urban sense of fearlessness that stems from the core of every individual. Plated in gold and rhodium, her stunning, carefully crafted pieces are encrusted with Swarovski crystals, semi-precious stones and pearls. She chooses and perfects each design, down to the smallest detail. Each piece is unique and features a mix of materials and colors that capture pure, clear emotions, whether they are statement pieces or delicate, refined ones. Each collection features a wide range of designs from necklaces and earrings to asymmetrical pieces, handcuffs, ear cuffs, rings, double rings and more.
Her signature pieces enjoy a celebrity fan base, including the likes of Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Kelly Osbourne, Chiara Ferragni, Jessica Alba, Nicole Scherzinger and more. Joanna’s creations are sold online on modaoperandi.com, luisaviaroma.com and ounass.com. They are also available in boutiques and department stores in various parts of the world, including Le Bon Marché, Lane Crawford, Harvey Nichols and Bergdorf Goodman.
Joanna Laura Constantine is the creative force behind her eponymous luxury accessories [...]
admin2022-01-09T19:40:42+02:00
Juanita García
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Guest Country - Columbia
Through her brand Priah, Colombian fashion designer Juanita García celebrates the work of female artisans who managed to preserve their ancestral art of crochet, a technique that could have disappeared in the face of rapid industrialization. The clothes designed by Juanita are then handmade with ethical practices in the Colombian mountains of Boyacá. Priah’s new Ruana collection reinterprets the traditional South American poncho into a fashion-forward, sustainably made must-have that exudes contemporary flair.
Through her brand Priah, Colombian fashion designer Juanita García celebrates [...]
admin2022-01-09T19:44:47+02:00
Julien Riad Sahyoun
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Jewelry
Casablanca native Julien Riad Sahyoun always had a great passion for precious stones. He studied design and gemology at the Gemological Institute of America in both New York and California, and then launched his own brand, JRS, in 2016. The Moroccan designer pushed boundaries by introducing genderless jewels, such as ear cuffs and bracelets that look just as fabulous on men as they do on women, taking the wearer into a boundless jewelry adventure.
Casablanca native Julien Riad Sahyoun always had a great passion [...]
admin2022-01-09T19:47:09+02:00
KAMUSHKI
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Jewelry
Libyan sisters Mariam and Dania Sawedeg are the design duo behind Kamushki jewelry. Together, they created the brand as a reflection of their multicultural upbringing and inherent love of jewels. Having grown up between Zurich, Dubai and Tripoli, the sisters possess a natural cosmopolitan flare, merging concepts from all corners of the world.
Mariam studied jewelry design at Gia in London, and she heads the design side of the brand, visualizing the playful models at the core of the Kamushki philosophy. Dania holds a degree in media and communications and has her finger firmly set on the fashion pulse. The relationship between the sisters shines through Kamushki, with their personalities infused into the distinctive designs.
A desire to tell stories is deeply embedded within the Kamushki brand. The Russian word Kamushki means “precious stones,” and the choice of a Russian name for the brand reflects the sisters’ fascination with the Romanovs and the spectacular crown jewels of the Russian royal family. Russian lore aside, Kamushki’s signature design, the fishbone, links firmly back to the designers’ Libyan roots, where the iconic motif represents goodness and is believed to protect the wearer from the evil eye. Cultural heritage may be at the heart of the Kamushki brand, but it is the modern twist on traditional symbols that gives the jewelry its edge.
Libyan sisters Mariam and Dania Sawedeg are the design duo [...]
Elie Abou Mefleh2022-07-18T11:31:45+03:00
Karen Gaballa
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Accessories
A keen eye for beauty is the key ingredient to have inspired the birth of this unique brand.
BOADḰ is a sustainable slow-fashion, wearable-wood brand based in Cairo.
The brand focuses on the experience of belonging to nature and nurturing the channel between women and nature.
Through the creation of spirited wooden handcrafted bags, BOΛDḰ uses wood as a space to embody art objects and patterns, avoiding exaggeration of appearance, focusing instead on material individuality.
As massive wood, epoxy and leather, some wooden purses are uniquely adorned with needlepoint embroidery, giving traditionally nostalgic elements a refreshing modern twist.
As a brand inspired and created by the natural world, it should come as no surprise that BOΛDḰ gives the natural world the respect and love it deserves; by being sustainable and promoting sustainability and slow fashion.
Founder bio:
Having been continuously transfixed by the natural beauty that surrounds her,
Karen had started her creative journey in architecture, only to have specialized her interests even further as time passed.
Architecture eventually turned into interior design, which ultimately turned into
product design - one thing led to another, knots seemed to unravel, and finally
BOΛDḰ rose to the surface.
Having always been drawn to the beautiful versatility of the wooden medium,
ever since her architecture days, Karen roped together her passion for creating
with her knowledge on how to best make use of material elements.
Having been raised in a French speaking environment all her life, it only made
sense to Karen that when it came to naming her brand, it would carry French elements.
Brand name concept:
BOΛDḰ is made up of three parts - the first part ‘BOA’ is a shortened version of
'Bois', the French word for ‘wood’, the second part ‘D’ is the French word 'de'
which means ‘of’, and the ‘Ḱ’ stands for Karen... altogether it simply means
'Wood of Karen'.
A keen eye for beauty is the key ingredient to [...]
admin2022-01-09T19:53:41+02:00
KARIM ADDUCHI
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Ready-to-wear
The goal of fashion should be to tell a story and to transform pieces of fabric into magic that transcends all boundaries – and that’s what characterizes Karim Adduchi’s designs. He is an Arab illustrator and fashion designer who grew up in the mountains in Imzouren, Morocco and moved to Spain at a young age with his family in the hopes of a more prosperous future.
When he arrived in Barcelona, he was mute for two years because he was a child lost in translation and confusion. He immersed himself into art and browsing fashion magazines and that helped him find his voice. He started speaking and communicating again due to the healing process of art and fashion. After completing his art studies at the University of Barcelona, he moved to Amsterdam to further his education.
Once again, he found himself far away from his family, his hometown and his culture, and he felt an urgent need to express his thoughts through fashion. Unable to speak English or Dutch, he had to escape the silence and communicate with fashion and drawings. His Moroccan and Arab backgrounds gave him the advantage of approaching fashion in a uniquely personal way. He decided to showcase his own story and his heritage in a transparent way – showing who he was instead of who he wanted to be – and the design process was cathartic.
What followed was beyond his wildest imagination – he showed his first collection to much acclaim. His story became an example of self-expression and globalization. A year later he was asked to open Amsterdam Fashion Week and the audience related to his message. The dream of a Moroccan child from a small village was coming to life. People saw themselves not just in the clothing but also in Karim's story.
Following the success of that show, he decided to have another show in tribute to the Syrian refugees and to give some of them the same opportunity to express themselves using fashion. That same year Forbes Europe and Forbes Middle East included him in their 30 Under 30 lists as one of the most influential designers to watch, and he was honoured with the Amsterdam Culture Business Award. People were speaking of the impact of a Moroccan designer in Europe, showcasing the bridges between Arab and Western cultures and of how his fashion brought a new approach that had never been seen before.
That success trickled into him being asked to join the official program of Paris Fashion Week for Fall-Winter 2019-2020 with his first ever ready-to-wear collection. The collection, aptly titled Maktub, tells the story of destiny using Moroccan fabrics, embroideries, prints and designs. The story behind Karim and behind his designs is not just his anymore – it belongs to everyone searching for a way of drowning out the silence of languages and cultures that do not understand them. This is the direction in which we're headed as a society. This is that moment.
The goal of fashion should be to tell a story [...]
admin2022-01-09T19:54:20+02:00
KARMA SALMAN
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Jewelry
Born in London and raised in Beirut, Karma Salman fell in love with jewelry while she was still in school. She graduated with a fine arts degree before specializing in jewelry design. Karma first entered the local jewelry industry after she interned at Selim Mouzannar (2011) and Nada Zeineh (2014). She then launched her first collection.
Karma has a passion for architecture in all its expressions: buildings, furniture, objects and forms, across cultures, geographies and time. Inspired by ancient Arabic, Persian and Classical European art, Karma’s collections are the result of extensive research, creative design and skilled craftsmanship. Her universe is playful yet serious, solid yet delicate. To craft her jewelry, she uses the principles of geology, physics, math and chemistry – not just design aesthetics. Karma’s designer jewelry, made of gold and other noble materials, withstands the test of time. Choosing and wearing one of her pieces establishes a personal relation between the piece, the person wearing it and Karma. All the pieces she creates blend elegantly with the wearer and are a source of positive energy.
Born in London and raised in Beirut, Karma Salman fell [...]
Elie Abou Mefleh2022-10-27T00:42:39+03:00
Kazna Asker
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Debut talent
Kazna Asker is a fashion designer who has created a brand encompassing the values associated with community, activism and charity. The brand combines her British upbringing with her Yemeni heritage, merging technical sportswear materials with traditional, woven Middle Eastern scarves and fabrics.
Purposefully designing her pieces in pairs to show the brother- and sisterhood of the Muslim community, Asker creates matching menswear and womenswear looks, as well as featuring a range of corresponding tracksuits and outerwear with Islamic abayas and thobes.
Asker collaborates directly with her local community to create graphics, film and print projects. Alongside fashion, she has contributed to community projects in her hometown of Sheffield, England, as well as volunteering with refugees in the Netherlands and working with rural communities in Nepal alongside youth-led charity Restless Development.
Along with co-organizing community fundraisers for Yemen and Palestine, and raising over £20,000 for charity, Asker has created her own charity project where she designs and sells T-shirts through which she has raised over £6,000 for humanitarian aid in Yemen.
Kazna Asker is a fashion designer who has created a [...]
admin2022-01-09T19:44:37+02:00
Laith Maalouf
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Evening wear
Jordanian designer Laith Maalouf earned a degree in fashion at Lebanon’s ESMOD and trained under celebrated Lebanese designer Elie Saab. He then launched his eponymous label in 2013. Featuring inspired eveningwear, the Laith Maalouf brand showcases layering, draping, complex patterns and embroidery, resulting in memorable gowns that reflect Laith’s passion for photography, drawing, art and graphic design.
Jordanian designer Laith Maalouf earned a degree in fashion at [...]
admin2022-01-09T19:44:23+02:00
Lama Jouni
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Ready-to-wear
Gleaning inspiration from music, travel and art, Lama Jouni has created an eponymous label that boasts structured silhouettes for women that are both sensual and understated. She studied at ESMOD, Istituto Marangoni and Parsons Paris and trained at such fashion houses as Balmain and Reed Krakoff. The Lebanese designer's ready-to-wear collections carry an accessible price point, yet espouse a high fashion ethos.
Gleaning inspiration from music, travel and art, Lama Jouni has [...]
admin2022-01-09T19:40:56+02:00
Laura Laurens
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Guest Country - Columbia
Self-trained, Bogotá-based designer Laura Laurens looks to her background in fine arts when she’s creating new designs. She launched her eponymous brand in 2014 with the idea of reinterpreting upcycled military fabrics as a metaphor to reassemble Colombia’s polarized territory. In 2018, she was chosen by Vogue Talents to represent Latin America in Milan Fashion Week, and in 2019 Deutsche Welle identified her as one of 40 female leaders transforming Latin America through creativity.
Self-trained, Bogotá-based designer Laura Laurens looks to her background in [...]
Elie Abou Mefleh2022-07-18T11:30:53+03:00
Leila Roukni
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Accessories
Talel Paris is a contemporary luxury brand founded in 2019 by the Moroccan Designer Leila Roukni. The brand offers leather handbags and accessories with a sharp design and a focus on unconventional shapes, considering details and a sustainable production.
The Designer has more than 10 years of experience in the leather goods industry, all of it accumulated in Paris. Worried about having to do the same work over and over again and needed more freedom and creativity in her work, Leila took the decision to launch her own brand.
Designed for a modern urban life and produced in limited quantities, Talel is driven by an irrepressible desire for freedom, at the service of an entire generation who sets its own rules, disrupted by the norm. Its radically colorful designs are made to accompany those who share the same values of boldness and creativity. The colors and inspirations come from the Designer’s travels around the globe and especially from Morocco, her native land.
TALEL bags are handcrafted with the finest materials and built around the best manufacturing practices, continuing the transmission of specific know-hows at every step of the production process.
Talel Paris is a contemporary luxury brand founded in 2019 [...]
admin2022-01-09T19:53:09+02:00
LIUDMILA
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Accessories
Liudmila was founded in 2014 by young Kuwaiti designer Najeeba Hayat. The project began as a translation of childhood obsessions with the aesthetic of shoes in cartoons, miniature paintings and Victorian drawings into wearable objects. She saw a gap in the market for birthday shoes: shoes that surprise and delight without moving into the realm of obvious sexy or kitsch.
Liudmila brings the Italian artisanal techniques, innovative materials and attention to detail lavished on high heel evening footwear to a lower heel category. Najeeba believes that the future of footwear lies in creating desire and fantasy, while respecting a woman’s mobility.
Liudmila was founded in 2014 by young Kuwaiti designer Najeeba [...]
admin2022-01-09T19:49:26+02:00
LIUDMILA
Quick view>
Accessories
Liudmila was founded in 2014 by young Kuwaiti designer Najeeba Hayat. The project began as a translation of childhood obsessions with the aesthetic of shoes in cartoons, miniature paintings and Victorian drawings into wearable objects. She saw a gap in the market for birthday shoes: shoes that surprise and delight without moving into the realm of obvious sexy or kitsch.
Liudmila brings the Italian artisanal techniques, innovative materials and attention to detail lavished on high heel evening footwear to a lower heel category. Najeeba believes that the future of footwear lies in creating desire and fantasy, while respecting a woman’s mobility.
Liudmila was founded in 2014 by young Kuwaiti designer Najeeba [...]
admin2022-01-09T19:44:16+02:00
Malik Thomas Jalil Kydd
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Debut talent
Of Iraqi origin and now based in Jordan, Malik Thomas Jalil Kydd created a gender-neutral label focused on screen printing. His engaging and highly artistic designs are part of the slow fashion movement, with each piece carefully and delicately produced in a sustainable manner. In addition, to ensure that the Malik Thomas Studio label remains anchored in the Arab world, Malik manufactures buttons and all other finishes within the MENA region.
Of Iraqi origin and now based in Jordan, Malik Thomas [...]
admin2022-01-09T19:44:09+02:00
Maram Aboul Enein
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Ready-to-wear
Prior to launching her eponymous ready-to-wear label in 2014, Maram Aboul Enein completed a BFA at Parsons Paris and trained at such prestigious fashion houses as Oscar de la Renta and Zac Posen. The Maram womenswear brand combines skilled craftsmanship with modern-day luxury, while using sustainably sourced fabrics and espousing ethical manufacturing techniques. Born in Egypt, Maram splits her time between Cairo and Montreal.
Prior to launching her eponymous ready-to-wear label in 2014, Maram [...]
admin2022-01-09T19:54:15+02:00
MARZOOK
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Accessories
Marzook's journey into design was initially driven by their passion for art and design. Their maiden collection came about by chance, starting with designing for family and a close circle of friends. Their design intend was to push boundaries, to challenge fashion norms and to create an expression of individuality. As a sibling duo, Marzook signifies the unity of two creative minds.
The circle is a profound, transcendent symbol. It is said to represent the cycle of life, completion, inclusion, and eternity. The intertwined double circles (or the letters O) featured in the Marzook logo express the two siblings' interlocking creative relationship. They are dependent on each other's design decisions and they rely on one another for support.
Marzouk creates handmade luxury art forms. Each design is individually unique, finding inspiration from art, architecture and nature. The brand's exquisite line of accessories consists of precious metals, plexiglass resins and Swarovski-encrusted spherical shapes and styles. The designs draw inspiration from a rich mix of Eastern and Western cultures, reflecting the world in which the brand was developed.
Marzook's journey into design was initially driven by their passion for [...]
admin2022-01-09T19:49:40+02:00
MAYA CHANTOUT
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Debut talent
Hailing from Syria and based in Paris, Maya Chantout is a graduate from the French capital's prestigious Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne. She's had stints at Hermes, Chloe and Celine, where she worked directly with Hedi Slimane. She also won the LVMH fashion graduate prize in 2018. Under her eponymous label, Maya creates feminine, sensual clothes inspired by the femme fatales from classic Arab films.
Hailing from Syria and based in Paris, Maya Chantout is [...]
admin2022-01-09T19:46:15+02:00
Mina Tahir
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Debut talent
Egyptian fashion designer Mina Tahir’s eponymous label is a gracious bridge between East and West. Youthful, dynamic and ultra-contemporary, the Minar Tahir brand is first inspired by the MENA region’s subcultures, with references to traditional dress and local crafts, but also by the alternative hip-hop and skateboard cultures of the West. The use of digital technologies is readily apparent in the gorgeous graffiti art adorning Mina Tahir fashion pieces.
Egyptian fashion designer Mina Tahir’s eponymous label is a gracious [...]
admin2022-01-09T19:46:32+02:00
Mohamed Benchellal
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Evening wear
Under the Benchellal label, Amsterdam-based Moroccan designer Mohamed Benchellal creates elegant eveningwear that manages to be timeless and contemporary, while being mindful to the planet. His designs have been worn by the likes of supermodel Helena Christensen and pop icon Camila Cabello, to name a few.
Under the Benchellal label, Amsterdam-based Moroccan designer Mohamed Benchellal creates [...]
Elie Abou Mefleh2022-07-18T11:21:46+03:00
Mohammed El Marnissi
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Debut talent
Marnissi is defined by its unisex haute couture featuring colorful silhouettes with far-reaching cultural influences. The label is characterized by the combination of contemporary aspects, innovative techniques and sustainable materials, with an underlying aesthetic derived from Arab heritage.
The collections strive to create a true sense of belonging, regardless of social and cultural origin, allowing people to be themselves, as they desire to be.
Marnissi has a strong commitment to an empowering society and to all those who strive to break free from the current way of thinking.
Marnissi is defined by its unisex haute couture featuring colorful [...]
Elie Abou Mefleh2022-07-18T11:35:55+03:00
Moulham Obid
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Evening wear
Moulham Obid’s couture collections are defined by his exciting, sustainable, detailed creations which are handcrafted over hundreds of hours. From recycling used textiles and clothes to choosing eco-friendly, natural and organic materials, his designs capture a vision of modern femininity for a better future. His creations elevate his clients’ individuality while keeping sustainability in the front row of every piece he creates.
With elaborate patterns, artistic draping, and pleats, Obid's designs reveal the client's desire to present a mix of modern, linear structures blended with romantic, imaginative femininity. His creations are sophisticated extravagance at their best. He combines diverse materials to create standout contemporary, sustainable feminine silhouettes.
Through his exciting and artistic creative talents, he arranges sheer tulle ruffles among cascades of silk, while skillfully placing intricate hand-embroidered details onto his creations. In his collections, he reveals his feeling for complex volumes and modern proportions. As his work is first derived through an artistic lens, he then transports these visions into unique, individual pieces that speak to every modern woman.
Moulham Obid’s couture collections are defined by his exciting, sustainable, [...]
admin2022-01-09T19:54:10+02:00
NAFSIKA SKOURTI
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Ready-to-wear
Nafsika Skourti is a directional upper contemporary womenswear brand that embraces both glamour and anti-glamour. Collections are built around an eclectic mix of references, research and textile development. Nafsika and Stephanie Skourti, two Greek-Jordanian sisters with a balance of fashion and business savvy, are the duo behind the label.
Nafsika Skourti has presented eight collections at Paris Fashion Week in international showrooms. Since its inception in 2014, the label has received much recognition from press and celebrities alike and has gone on to be featured in i-D, W Magazine, Wonderland Magazine, Dazed and Vogue. Nafsika Skourti was also a finalist in the 2015 Dubai Design Fashion Council’s Style Arabia Prize. The label is stocked at department stores and boutiques across the Middle East, Europe and Asia, and has secured seed-round investment.
Nafsika, the designer and creative director, 31, has a BA in fashion design from London’s Central Saint Martins, and trained in couture embroidery techniques at the prestigious École Lesage in Paris. Before launching her own label, she also spent time working at Marchesa, Jasmine Di Milo and Kumbaz (the renowned Jordanian couture house).
If Nafsika is the creative, right-brained sister, Stephanie is the vital left brain of the operation. Stephanie, the commercial director, 29, has a degree in law and five years’ experience at Goldman Sachs in London and Dubai. She manages the business side of the brand: overseeing production, handling clients, keeping an eye on finances and more. Despite the lack of an established fashion landscape in Jordan, Nafsika Skourti has helped create a community of like-minded artists through their passion for design and has had the honor of dressing one of the most stylish women in the Middle East: Queen Rania of Jordan.
Nafsika Skourti is a directional upper contemporary womenswear brand that [...]
admin2022-01-09T19:47:15+02:00
NAFSIKA SKOURTI
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Ready-to-wear
Nafsika Skourti is a directional upper contemporary womenswear brand that embraces both glamour and anti-glamour. Collections are built around an eclectic mix of references, research and textile development. Nafsika and Stephanie Skourti, two Greek-Jordanian sisters with a balance of fashion and business savvy, are the duo behind the label.
Nafsika Skourti has presented eight collections at Paris Fashion Week in international showrooms. Since its inception in 2014, the label has received much recognition from press and celebrities alike and has gone on to be featured in i-D, W Magazine, Wonderland Magazine, Dazed and Vogue. Nafsika Skourti was also a finalist in the 2015 Dubai Design Fashion Council’s Style Arabia Prize. The label is stocked at department stores and boutiques across the Middle East, Europe and Asia, and has secured seed-round investment.
Nafsika, the designer and creative director, 31, has a BA in fashion design from London’s Central Saint Martins, and trained in couture embroidery techniques at the prestigious École Lesage in Paris. Before launching her own label, she also spent time working at Marchesa, Jasmine Di Milo and Kumbaz (the renowned Jordanian couture house).
If Nafsika is the creative, right-brained sister, Stephanie is the vital left brain of the operation. Stephanie, the commercial director, 29, has a degree in law and five years’ experience at Goldman Sachs in London and Dubai. She manages the business side of the brand: overseeing production, handling clients, keeping an eye on finances and more. Despite the lack of an established fashion landscape in Jordan, Nafsika Skourti has helped create a community of like-minded artists through their passion for design and has had the honor of dressing one of the most stylish women in the Middle East: Queen Rania of Jordan.
Nafsika Skourti is a directional upper contemporary womenswear brand that [...]
admin2022-01-09T19:54:04+02:00
OKHTEIN
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Accessories
Egyptian siblings Aya and Mounaz Abdelraouf launched their brand Okhtein – meaning sisters in Arabic – because they wanted to bring true luxury back to their home country. They also sought to draw international attention to the inherent refinement of Egyptian artisanship, while sensing a gap in the market for luxury accessories produced in Egypt. Launched in 2013, Okhtein seeks to set new trends, promoting Egyptian artistry as well as presenting new designs to the world.
Born and raised in Cairo, Aya and Mounaz had an early fascination with fashion, with Aya studying communication and media arts along with digital arts and design at the American University of Cairo. Mounaz studied marketing and art at the same institution. Mounaz is also a highly skilled painter and has exhibited her work in galleries in Egypt and Paris.
As a brand, Okhtein is remarkable due to its local manufacturing process. Each Okhtein product has deep cultural associations. To manufacture their products, Aya and Mounaz felt compelled to take a philanthropic approach to their work, while also seeking to incorporate more handmade embroidery and straw into their leatherwork. This led to a mutually rewarding collaboration with several local NGOs that work to provide assistance to skilled female workers who have faced considerable financial hardship.
Okhtein stands apart as a luxury brand that is truly committed to supporting the cultural value of Egyptian craftsmanship and to giving back to those in need while promoting innovative, cutting-edge design on an international scale.
Egyptian siblings Aya and Mounaz Abdelraouf launched their brand Okhtein [...]
admin2022-01-09T19:47:20+02:00
OŪMÄEM
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Jewelry
Anas Alomaim, the talent behind the OŪMÄEM brand, is an architect, artist, jewelry designer and professor of architecture. He developed a passion for jewelry design during a critical moment in his career. After the death of his father, Anas stepped into a new phase of his life: he awakened anew to the relationships that connect him to the women in his family. He designed rings for his mother and sisters as a gesture of gratitude for their support during those difficult times. It was then that he realized his passion for jewelry design and its multifaceted beauty.
After finishing his Master’s in Architecture from Columbia University, Anas moved to California to pursue his PhD at the University of California, Los Angeles. He worked on analyzing the geometries of structures that respect the larger laws of nature, constellations and planets. He participated in and co-curated several exhibitions in Dubai, New York, Los Angeles and his native Kuwait. He also worked for academic institutions, corporate design firms, independent architectural offices, and he interned with fashion designers, including Diane von Furstenberg.
Anas Alomaim, the talent behind the OŪMÄEM brand, is an [...]
admin2022-01-09T19:53:59+02:00
POISE
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Accessories
Born in Lebanon, Emma Boutros graduated with honors from the Lebanese American University (LAU) with a Bachelor's in graphic design. She possesses a high fashion sense with a refined eye for quality, detail and style. By pairing her innate creativity with her acquired design skills, she took on the role of creative director in 2010 to launch Poise, a contemporary footwear label presenting sophisticated lines for an elegant but unconventional young clientele. Emma wanted to cater to women looking to express their individuality and who care as much about style as they do about comfort and quality.
Most Poise pieces have embroidery, hand-patches and a mix of colors and fabrics. Emma incorporated the keffiyeh print in many of her designs. She mixed the traditional Arab print with high-quality fabric, and embroidery became her signature. It was her way of celebrating her cultural belonging.
In 2012, Emma launched the first-of-its-kind ready-to-wear bridal line, along with the bespoke service of footwear customization. In 2016, she was chosen by Coca-Cola to be the first Arab designer to customize a limited edition of the brand's iconic Coca-Cola Light can, while capturing the beverage's #LOVELIFE philosophy. The collaboration also featured a capsule collection of six exclusive #cokelightxpoise footwear styles. Another major collaboration was with Italian sneaker brand Superga. Emma created a ready-to-wear bridal sneaker line for the brand three years in a row.
Born in Lebanon, Emma Boutros graduated with honors from the [...]
admin2022-01-09T19:49:44+02:00
RAMLA
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Accessories
Reem Hamed is an Egyptian designer who was born and raised in Cairo. She’s the founder and creative director of Ramla, a local footwear brand founded in 2017 that aims to revive a lost culture and empower women artisans. While studying for her Bachelor’s in interior and architecture design and Master’s in luxury business in Florence, Italy, she was inspired to start her own line, which she would eventually produce exclusively in Egypt. She delved into her passion for architecture and modern design to create a sustainable, timeless, clean and minimalistic footwear brand named Ramla, meaning sand in Arabic.
Reem Hamed is an Egyptian designer who was born and raised [...]
Elie Abou Mefleh2022-07-18T11:15:46+03:00
Rayana Boulila
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Debut talent
Hailing from Algeria and the Netherlands, Rayana Boulila’s womenswear brand is about fantasy and a focuses on a cross between couture and sculptural garments. The designer emphasizes the curves of the body through graphic contouring by playing on color contrasts.
These graphic silhouettes allow the designer to celebrate the body and the power of women while relying on a cosmetic material that is rejuvenating and regenerating the skin.
Boulila describes her collection as a “selfcare collection” that focuses on what we can see, and, through the power of suggestion, what we can’t. The result is a new Venus.
Hailing from Algeria and the Netherlands, Rayana Boulila’s womenswear brand [...]
admin2022-01-09T19:53:54+02:00
REEMAMI
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Ready-to-wear
Reema Al Banna is the founder and designer of award-winning UAE-based label Reemami. Originally Palestinian, Reema was the first to set up a contemporary fashion label of its kind in 2010. Her label has since been celebrated for its signature architectural and experimental cuts, playful concepts and hand-illustrated graphics and prints, which showcase a passion to dress the cool, quirky and stylish woman.
Reema's interest in print was first cultivated as a graphic designer, when she developed technical expertise with an aim to apply it to fashion. She pursued her training in fashion at ESMOD in Dubai and graduated after two years.
Reemami's collections are inspired by the designer's love of boxing, mountain climbing, music and traveling. Customers include Queen Rania of Jordan, Bella Hadid and Kelly Rowland.
Reema Al Banna is the founder and designer of award-winning [...]
Elie Abou Mefleh2022-07-18T11:42:47+03:00
Renwa Yassine
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Ready-to-wear
The key to enhance creative conversations leading to a more sustainable way of working in the fashion industry.
Born and raised in Africa, with its roots in Lebanon, RĒNWA sits in the midst of both cultures, and understand their commonalities.
The idea that “cultures have no barriers” resonates through the designer’s commitment to bring culture and heritage to the core of her maison.
“I grew up in Côte d’Ivoire and it felt innate to be here, building a loyal community who understands my mission in working with sustainable fabrics,” says Renwa.
RĒNWA was launched in 2019, and was imbued with Renwa’s determination to create a wardrobe recognized for its innovative cuts and subtle cross-cultural inspirations with fabrics that are equally sustainable and innovative.
The key to enhance creative conversations leading to a more [...]
admin2022-01-09T19:46:40+02:00
Roudha Al Mazroei
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Debut talent
A recent graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar, where she earned a BFA in fashion design, Roudha Al Mazroei possesses a great love of architecture and art. Having identified a gap in the market when it came to creative and more casual bridal wear, she launched her eponymous label, which focuses on contemporary, ready-to-wear bridal outfits and that reflects the designer’s love of storytelling and her rebellious nature.
A recent graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar, where [...]
Elie Abou Mefleh2022-07-18T11:41:34+03:00
Rym Beydoun
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Ready-to-wear
Super Yaya is a brand that explores West African culture and textiles.
After graduating from Central Saint Martins’ womenswear program, the Lebanese-born, Côte d’Ivoire–raised creative Rym Beydoun returned home to launch her brand in 2015.
As a fourth-generation member of a Lebanese immigrant family in West Africa, Beydoun immediately felt at once immersed in, yet apart from, the culture, and sought to create a forward-thinking line that locals would feel proud to wear. Most of the fabrics used to create the collections are handpicked, hand dyed and printed in Cote d'Ivoire before arriving and being transformed in-house in Beirut.
Super Yaya is a brand that explores West African culture [...]
admin2022-01-09T19:53:51+02:00
SADAFA
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Accessories
Dina El Sheikh was born in Alexandria, Egypt, and was raised among diverse cultures, increasing her curiosity and appetite for culture and heritage. She graduated from the American University in Cairo in 2005, majoring in theater with a specialization in costume design and a minor in art. She further continued her studies in fashion design at Istituto Di Moda Burgo in Milan in 2006. In 2015, after working in styling and fashion consultancy, she studied at the Design Studio by Azza Fahmy, learning the techniques of jewelry design.
The story behind S.a.d.a.f.a was to revive Egyptian heritage and craftsmanship by adding a contemporary twist. It is about honoring and taking great pride in Egypt's handcrafting skills. S.a.d.a.f.a pays homage to how majestic and grand the city of Cairo is. Just like Cairo, S.a.d.a.f.a has a firm skeleton, but if you focus on the details, you will notice how intricate and delicate they are.
The dual meaning in the name of the brand symbolizes S.a.d.a.f.a, meaning mother of pearl in Arabic, and it is also derived from "soudfa" (meaning coincidence in Arabic), because everything in this journey has happened by sheer coincidence. S.a.d.a.f.a strives to create sophisticated and fashionable products that combine elegant design with high quality. The brand's products and the cultural values they embody blend tradition and innovation, and kindle dream and fantasy. S.a.d.a.f.a stands for modern elegance and cool glamour with a distinct sense of refined quality.
Dina El Sheikh was born in Alexandria, Egypt, and was raised [...]
admin2022-01-09T19:51:47+02:00
SANDRA MANSOUR
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Evening wear
Sandra Mansour, a fashion house known for its intricate ready-to-wear line and bespoke bridal wear, was established in Beirut, Lebanon, in 2010. With knowledge and passion for painting, paired with her experience in the fashion world, Sandra’s vision came to life, adorning women around the world. The Sandra Mansour brand is dedicated to creating artistically driven pieces with timeless silhouettes, made of delicate fabrics with extreme attention to detail, as seen in the hand and thread embroidery technique and style. Each piece is romantic yet strong, fashioned to make you dream.
Sandra Mansour, a fashion house known for its intricate ready-to-wear [...]
Elie Abou Mefleh2022-07-18T12:20:58+03:00
Şansım Adalı
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Guest Country: Turkey
Sansim Adali, creator of SUDIETUZ, graduated from LaSalle Academy with a Fashion Design major, and was mentored in Antwerp in conceptual design. A wife and mother of two, born in Istanbul, Turkey, Adali established her brand SUDIETUZ (a combination of her family names) in 2016. The brand reflects how she blends her Syrian roots with contemporary Turkish legacies, which is clearly reflected in all her collections.
Her first feminine collection showcased her vision as hyper textured and colorful. Her aim is set on lifting up couture using her chosen signature fabric, tulle, perfectly and in the most trendy and innovative way. Adali is environmentally conscious and strives to incorporate sustainable fabrics at every opportunity.
Defined as “street couture” her designs are visually immersive and romantically abstract. Very early on in her career she received the Leading Emerging Designer award from Elle Magazine.
Each season she surprises with digital and interdisciplinary presentations, making her real world appeal virtual. With her passion for technology, Adali created virtual humans with Artificial Intelligence and added them into her fashion journey as seen in her 3D Metaverse Collection with DressX.
Adali has enjoyed successful mass-market collaborations with LCWaikiki, Erikli waterbottles, and Coca-Cola energy drinks and offers a digital design experience to millions of people in Turkey as well as Eurasia. She is highly sought after as a stylist by celebrities.
Adali’s loyalty to her design vision equates to representing the opulence of her multicultural being, personalizing her cultural traditions whilst redefining couture at her atelier in Istanbul with a team composed of fashion designers, 3D artists and computer engineers. It is here where she designs wearable fashion alongside digital versions of her designs.
Her biggest inspiration stems from her family and her cultural roots and her future plans include exploring handcrafts and supporting local craftsman in Turkey.
Sansim Adali, creator of SUDIETUZ, graduated from LaSalle Academy with [...]
admin2022-01-09T19:48:03+02:00
SARA MRAD
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Evening wear
Born and raised in Beirut, Sara Mrad discovered her love of fashion at age nine. When her parents became aware of her bent for fashion, they worked on nurturing her talent by involving her in various artistic activities, including photography and painting.
In 2009, after graduating from ESMOD in Beirut, she worked as an intern for Lebanese fashion designer Rabih Kayrouz. In April 2011, Sara was invited to present her first collection at Dubai Fashion Week in the emerging talent category, and she then joined the team of Lebanese fashion designer Zuhair Murad as a designer. She credits her time at Zuhair Murad, where she got involved in the international couture world, with having helped her created her own Beirut-based brand in 2013.
The Sara Mrad label celebrates elegance and femininity through a modern, romantic silhouette distinguished by sumptuous materials with soft draping and lush embroideries. The Sara Mrad mission is to brighten the feminine aspect of every woman with a dreamy modern twist.
Sara Mrad was an FTA Prize finalist in the Eveningwear category in 2020.
Born and raised in Beirut, Sara Mrad discovered her love [...]
admin2022-01-09T19:48:39+02:00
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SHAHIRA LASHEEN
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Evening wear
Shahira Lasheen is a luxury fashion house founded in 2015 in Egypt. The designer label specializes in hand-embellished couture, as well as majestic bridal designs, with a dreamy color palette and sumptuous fabrics. Shahira Lasheen herself has had an undeniable love of fashion since her early childhood. She was trained by Lebanese fashion designer Tony Ward and recognized by Lebanese fashion designer Zuhair Murad as one of the 10 best upcoming Arab designers of her generation. Shahira Lasheen has dressed a number of influential women around the globe, including Mona Zaki, Dorra Zarrouk, Arwa Gouda, Samira Saeed, Saba Mubarak, Tara Emad, Mahira Khan and Guawhar Khan. She also dressed the first lady of Egypt Entissar El-Sisi during the second presidential ceremony, as well as Queen Rania of Jordan. Aside from her strong base of clients in Egypt, Lasheen's designs are widely loved among the regional royal families of Saudi Arabia, UAE and Kuwait.
Shahira Lasheen is a luxury fashion house founded in 2015 [...]
Elie Abou Mefleh2022-10-27T00:39:02+03:00
Siham and Sarah Albinali
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Ready-to-wear
Founded in 2018 by Saudi Arabian sisters Sarah and Siham Albinali, Lurline redefines contemporary luxury fashion by embracing the soft goth, the daring and the feminine, combining this aesthetic with a sense of dark humor. The brand aims to embolden the meaning of what it is to be a woman in today's world by championing a fearless feminine viewpoint through timeless pieces.
Lurline takes pride in combining both classic and modern techniques in their unique creations, sourcing only the finest fabrics with superior craftsmanship. While always seeking new and innovative ways to create, the brand also strives towards the path of sustainability and bringing a strong meaning of what it is to be a Lurline woman.
Founded in 2018 by Saudi Arabian sisters Sarah and Siham [...]
admin2022-01-09T19:48:53+02:00
TAMARZIZT
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Jewelry
Oumaima Tamarzizt was born and raised in Tunis. Driven by a passion for creation and beauty, she first studied design before specializing in jewelry. She worked in Paris as a freelance designer for prestigious brands and then launched her own brand, Tamarzizt, in 2014. Her fine and original creations are inspired, among other things, by a rich heritage and a thirst for travel and freedom that nurture a very fertile imagination. The roots of the designer and her influences collide in a mix of colors and shapes: her collections sometimes evoke the traditions of the East, sometimes the modernity of the West, like colored latticework alongside sleek skyscrapers. Oumaima lives and works between Paris and Tunisia. Her creations are manufactured in small ateliers in both cities.
Oumaima Tamarzizt was born and raised in Tunis. Driven by [...]
admin2022-01-09T19:46:48+02:00
Tania and Dima Nawbar
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Jewelry
Sisters Tania and Dima Nawbar are fourth-generation Lebanese jewelers – in 1891, their great-great grandfather opened the family’s first jewelry store in Beirut’s historic gold souk. Together, Tania and Dima launched L’atelier Nawbar, becoming the first women jewelers in their family. Their capsule collection, Fragments of Beirut, is particularly poignant – it’s both a tribute to their beloved capital city and a testament to all things beautiful that were violently blown away in 2020, during the August 4 Beirut blast.
Sisters Tania and Dima Nawbar are fourth-generation Lebanese jewelers – [...]
admin2022-01-09T19:53:48+02:00
YASMIN MANSOUR
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Evening wear
Yasmin Mansour was born in 1990 and earned her fashion degree in 2012. Inherent in her designs is a message to empower women, to give them freedom to be what they want to be. Yasmin is also influenced by her father’s strength and work ethic – seeing her father thrive and build from nothing encouraged her.
The Yasmin Mansour brand was founded in 2014. It's one of the first luxury womenswear labels based in Qatar and one that is inspired by Arab culture and traditional women’s clothing. The first collection, Sierra, included embroidered capes reminiscent of an undulating landscape and replete with geometric and structural details. One of the main ideas behind the Yasmin Mansour brand is to create unique, one-of-a-kind pieces.
Other achievements for the brand include a collaboration with Nespresso and a sunglasses collection created with Dutch designer Leo Vanweersch.
Yasmin Mansour was born in 1990 and earned her fashion [...]
Elie Abou Mefleh2022-07-18T11:34:46+03:00
Yasmin Mansour
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Evening wear
Yasmin Mansour, a fashion designer and creative director of her eponymous fashion house, was born in 1990. She obtained her degree in Fashion Design from Instituto di ModaBurgo in 2012 and her love for cinema and photography inspired her to complete a bachelor’s degree in Art Directing.
In 2014, Mansour founded her eponymous label, one of the first luxury, sustainable labels in the region, in Qatar, and she now works between Doha and Paris. “For me, designing has no rules. If you start setting rules, you will not be able to create anything. You create what you dream of,” says Mansour. Her work is inspired by “her dreams, art and architecture”, she says, and creatives including Oscar Niemeyer, Jean-Michel Frank, Pierre Jeanneret, Elsa Schiaparelli and Yves Saint-Laurent inspire her creative journey.
Mansour enjoys collaborating with other brands and artists such as Bouthayna Al Muftah, Leo Vanweersch, and Nespresso and her aim is to encourage and promote sustainable fashion and art creativity. Her latest collaboration with Qatar based artist Al Muftah presents a concept beyond fashion and art. Together, they created a collection entitled Kitabaat, which is made up of unique pieces based on stories and memories from a land’s past, designed to empower and
inspire into the future.
For Vanweersch, Mansour designed sunglasses made of sustainable horns from animals that died of natural causes. As for Nespresso, she created two dresses out of recycled coffee capsules. Mansour believes that luxurious fashion can also be sustainable. All of her pieces are handmade and made-to-measure for high quality and so that she can be assured of their sustainability.
Mansour’s passion is to inspire young artists and designers through her work and she continues to collaborate with local artists and promote sustainable fashion through her unique pieces.
One such example is her unique art piece, Le Livre. Le Livre is a kaftan made out of canvas fabric and the inner lining is hand drawn. The fabric is collected from leftovers used in the production of tents from Souq Waqif in Doha. The piece was fully hand-crafted in Doha, Qatar. It took around 370 hours to make.
Yasmin Mansour, a fashion designer and creative director of her [...]
Elie Abou Mefleh2022-07-18T11:40:12+03:00
Yousra Elsadig
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Ready-to-wear
Boutique de Nana
Boutique de Nana is a luxury sustainable brand that specializes in unique and trendy clothing. It has the objective of breaking stereotypes, merging cultures, and advocating for inclusion and the celebration of uniqueness within fashion. Boutique De Nana has showcased its work during London, Milan, and Paris Fashion weeks. Moreover, the brand’s extensive social and fashion impact is marked by a wide range of national and international awards and coverage by international media, including appearances in three BBC documentaries. The brand also raises funds for causes such as girls' education and other issues the founders feel strongly about.
Boutique de Nana was founded by Yousra Elsadig, a Sudanese fashion designer, double-degree holder, wife, a mother of two and who specializes in eye care and comes from a family of medical care providers. She founded her brand when she took a maternity break before going for her second degree in the UK. Yousra’s message revolves around ethical fashion with an impact and inspiring women from all walks of life to pursue their dreams regardless of how unconventional or unrealistic they may seem to those around them.
Boutique de Nana Boutique de Nana is a luxury sustainable [...]
Elie Abou Mefleh2022-07-18T11:25:19+03:00
Youssra Nichane
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Jewelry
Jewelry has always enjoyed a prominent place in Moroccan society. A social indicator, as family heritage and even as an investment, the heavier and more sophisticated the adornment, the greater the prestige, the perfect example is the famous gold mdamma (traditional belt) that young brides received as a dowry. However, for decades, many have tended to abandon traditional jewelry, as it is difficult and heavy to wear on a daily basis.
The jewelry brand Dihyan, designed by Youssra Nichane and co-founded with Nicole Abate, was born as a beautiful tribute to Moroccan craftsmanship and has the goal of reconnecting woman to their roots by transforming jewels dating from the 17th to the 19th century into everyday pieces adapted to the present, as a” revival” of the wearing of Moroccan jewels with a “modern twist “. The pieces work by “lightening” the designs of traditional jewels, creating jewels that Dihyan intends to inspire woman to wear to accessorize their outfits.
The unique pieces are made by hand from individual parts by local artisans in the country’s cultural capital Fès. The designs are labor-intensive and the true heroes and heroines behind the creations are the house’s enamellers and goldsmiths. Nichane and Abate stand by them strongly through their brand in order to keep this form of art moving forward in North Africa, and to conserve the talent and hard work of the hands that make the brand a possibility.
The brand’s DNA is chic without being ostentatious, precious yet affordable and traditional without being weighty. An array of semiprecious stones carefully picked for each creation and intertwined by silk threads are set on 24 ct gold plated silver. Jewelry is one of the most personal and intimate forms of art. It is capable of expressing deep emotions, while remaining at the heart of fashion.
Founders
Passionate about jewelry and with a deep-rooted love for her culture since childhood, creative director Youssra Nichane has a call for the art of creating jewelry. Her biggest spur for going forward with her dream was the attention she grabbed from fashionistas and designers while wearing traditional pieces from her private collection during Paris Fashion Week, a realization that pushed her to develop the idea further and imagine her own collection. With one goal in mind, breathing new life into Moroccan jewelry to create real fashion pieces, she was determined to move forward.
She discussed the idea with her friend Nicole Abate, an expert in arts and culture and a great lover of antique jewelry, living between Miami, New York and London. Together, they took Dihyan's first steps by joining forces as they knew the brand would quickly have the opportunity to travel the world and make an impact in the global jewelry market through its one of a kind designs and traditional roots.
Social Impact
Full of history, inherited from generation to generation, the craftsmanship of Moroccan goldsmiths remains the soul of Dihyan. Local artisans have been highly impacted by the current pandemic, and Diyhan works with talented creatives from Fès, - one of the oldest cities in the African country- while also donating a percentage of its profits to a collective of local women founded by Dihyan, in order to teach them the goldsmith’s trade, a sector mainly dominated by men; it’s goal being to create jewelry made by women for women.
Dihyan’s Drawings - From Imagination to Reality
It was during the pandemic while the world took a pause when the first images of Dihyan came to life. Nichane found great pleasure in drawing and made it a fountain of creation for what she had previously imagined as the first designs of the brand. During the creation process, each pearl, stone and element were meticulously selected and conceptualized in sketches to be later reinterpreted by the Moroccan silversmiths that brought Dihyan into existence.
Jewelry has always enjoyed a prominent place in Moroccan society. [...]
admin2022-01-09T19:46:53+02:00
Zaid Affas
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Ready-to-wear
Born in Kuwait to Iraqi parents, Zaid Affas first wanted to be an architect like his father, but the love of style that his mother instilled him took him down the fashion design path, graduating from the prestigious Central Saint Martins in menswear fashion design. A citizen of the world, Affas lived in Kuwait City, London, New York, Los Angeles, Milan and Xiamen, China, prior to moving back to Los Angeles, where he launched his eponymous label in 2014. His distinctive, luxury ready-to-wear designs are a blissful mix of organic shapes and urban engineering, reflecting Zaid’s masterful tailoring.
Born in Kuwait to Iraqi parents, Zaid Affas first wanted to [...]
admin2022-01-09T19:49:05+02:00
Zakaria Bendriouich
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Accessories
Moroccan bag designer and artisan Zakaria Bendriouich was born and raised in Marrakesh. A former student at Casablanca’s Collège LaSalle, he spent most of his teenage years with the craftsmen of Marrakesh’s Medina, where he acquired his skills and inspiration. In 2012, Zakaria had a major accident that resulted in him losing a kidney. This was a major turning point in his life. The loss of his kidney required him to drink three liters of water per day, so he had to carry water bottles at all times, and his friends joked about him needing to carry a jerrycan. This led him to create the Bidou Bags, which were conceived in order for Zakaria to hold his water bottles in a stylish manner. The designer produced his handmade leather bag using recycled plastic jerrycans (in a satiric take on his health condition). Fans of the Bidou Bags include supermodel Naomi Campbell.
Moroccan bag designer and artisan Zakaria Bendriouich was born and [...]
admin2022-01-09T19:49:13+02:00
Zakaria Bendriouich
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Accessories
Moroccan bag designer Zakaria Bendriouich was born and raised in Marrakesh. A former student at Casablanca’s Collège LaSalle, he spent most of his teenage years with the craftsmen of Marrakesh’s Medina, where he acquired his skills and inspiration. In 2012, Zakaria had a major accident that resulted in him losing a kidney, requiring him to drink three liters of water per day, so he had to carry water bottles at all times, and his friends joked about him needing to carry a jerrycan. This led him to create the Bidou Bags, which were conceived in order for Zakaria to hold his water bottles in a stylish manner. The designer produced his handmade leather bag using recycled plastic jerrycans (in a satiric take on his health condition).
Moroccan bag designer Zakaria Bendriouich was born and raised in [...]
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