In the past several years, the UAE has become a topic of many feature articles regarding the country’s rapidly growing fashion scene.
While the region’s luxury purchasing power is extraordinary – accounting for over $300 billion in luxury purchases per year, a figure which is growing at an annual rate of five percent – the GCC’s success story goes far beyond the figures. In fact, it is the talent of regional fashion designers that have attracted the attention of major luxury retailers like Moda Operandi, who now see the UAE as a valuable resource when it comes to scouting emerging talent.
Beyond that, the government of the UAE is keen to support new fashion designers, which is indicated by the construction of Dubai Design District, and the launch of Thw Dubai Design and Fashon Council in 2014. Further support is given to regional talent by Fashion Forward and Abu Dhabi Fashion Week, which bring an international audience to the UAE to witness the collections of our talented designers.
1. Madiyah Al Sharqi
Madiyah Al Sharqi's eponymous brand is based in Fujairah and was launched in 2012.
Sheikha Madiyah Al Sharqi, daughter of the Ruler of Fujairah, U.A.E, HH Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, grew up immersed in high fashion. From an early age she witnessed tailors custom make lavish gowns and fell in love with the design process. Her eponymous label was launched after graduating from the prestigious French fashion university, Esmod and interning under renowned Lebanese designer Abed Mahfouz.
She is known for her exquisite, lavish designs, and uber-feminine aesthetic which is usually translated by a palette of dreamy pastels and luxurious fabrics. Her work quickly caught on regionally and internationally and is now stocked at retailers the likes of Symphony and Moda Operandi. In 2016, Al Sharqi has expanded her vision beyond confectionary eveningwear to include a smart, stunning line-up of daywear, and she has been experimenting with a more earthy palette.
2. Nathalie Trad
BORN IN BEIRUT AND RAISED IN DUBAI, NATHALIE TRAD EARNED A BACHELOR’S DEGREE FROM ESMOD INTERNATIONAL IN PARIS. SHE THEN RELOCATED TO NEW YORK, GRADUATING WITH A DEGREE IN DESIGN AND MANAGEMENT FROM PARSONS. NATHALIE WENT ON TO WORK UNDER THE MENTORSHIP OF PROENZA SCHOULER BEFORE LAUNCHING HER OWN LABEL IN 2013.
HER DESIGN PROCESS INVOLVES QUESTIONING EVERYTHING IN HER SURROUNDINGS IN AN ATTEMPT TO RE-INTERPRET WHAT SHE ALREADY KNOWS, BEING OBSERVATIONAL AND CONSTANTLY STRIVING TO DISCOVER SOMETHING NEW.
Nathalie Trad is without a doubt one of the region’s best fashion success stories. Since the launch of her eponymous clutch label in 2013, she has been heaped with international acclaim. Dozens of celebrities – like Olivia Palermo, Solange Knowles, and Sienna Miller – have not only named her their favorite clutch designer, but proudly sport her wares on the daily. Her sculptural, glossy aesthetic results in clutches that are works of art.
3. Rami Al Ali
Born in Deir ez-Zor, Syria, Rami Al Ali's love of refined aesthetics began at an early age. Being the only boy of five children, Al Ali took an early interest in style and fashion, with his curiosity of the arts eventually leading him to Syria's capital city, Damascus, where In 1991, Al Ali joined the College of Fine Arts to study Visual Communications. Inspired by the institute's freedom of expression, Al Ali's decision to design and produce a fashion show for his final graduation project astounded his professors, who were impressed at his portrayal of fine arts through fashion. Couture designer Rami Al Ali has amassed legions of loyal fans via his pristine, lavish designs. Fans of his work include regional influencers like Diala Makki and international celebrities like Beyoncé Knowles, Chanel Iman, and Kerry Washington. In addition to his celebrity clientele, Al Ali has also gained global recognition due to his presence at Paris Couture Week. Recently, Al Ali has decided to expand beyond the couture category to include ready-to-wear looks, much to the delight of women around the world who love his flattering, feminine silhouettes and his hand-crafted embellishments.
4. Nafsika Skourti
Educated at Central Saint Martins, where her avant-garde side was encouraged, and then Ecole Lesage, where she learned the skills needed for couture embroidery, Skourti took her own personal obsession with menswear to New York for her first job, at that most feminine of houses, Marchesa, before launching her eponymous label. Vogue spent five minutes with the designer who's fast garnering a following among the red carpet's most adventurous stars. Nafsika Skourti first landed on our radar at Fashion Forward, where her energetic, youthful collection reinforced the idea that streetwear has a viable voice in the UAE. Her cleverly crafted collections resonate deeply with the politically and culturally savvy, and have helped garner the young designer international recognition in major fashion publications globally.
5. Faiza Bouguessa
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