Latest Highlights from Dubai Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2011
Rabia Z flaunts her individuality through her collection
Thursday, 21 April 2011
Highly sought after designer Rabia Z closed the second day of Dubai Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2011 her collection aimed at the woman who confidentially flaunts her individuality.
On a quest to find her muse through an online competition on her website, Rabia stumbled upon 25-year-old Ayesha, of Arab and British heritage. The collection is inspired by Ayesha’s personal style and personality and the exercise of the competition helped the designer understand and adapt to the needs of her clientele in a more informed manner.
The ‘Ayesha’s Autumnal Journey’ collection plays with fall colours of ochre, olive, khaki and grey with splashes of other colour worked into the outfits. The outfits in organic cotton, denim, wool and lycra are alternated with her signature use of stretch jersey. Holding true to the label’s philosophy of conservative chic, structured jackets and soft tops were worn over wide trousers. The innovative ‘jacket-abayas’ in chocolate brown were teamed with jeans, displaying their instant wearable quotient.
Sporty tops with zippers and coloured piping were paired with matching shaylas. Loose tops, long silk shirts as well as drape dresses with subtle embellishments and sharp cuts reflected the trendy yet traditional tag of the brand.
The collection featured sunglasses and accessories from the UK brand ACCESSORIZE.
Emerging Talents receive huge encouragement from Media
Dubai Fashion Week’s Emerging Talent show, comprising six names to watch out for, kicked off the third day of the Fall/Winter 2011 line-ups.
Azdan Zandi with her 9-outfit collection, inspired by lilies fused modernity with feminine grace. Her outfits were classically feminine, incorporating futuristic detailing and sharp cuts. Outfits in lamé, black and white featured in the collection. One shoulder dresses rode up to reveal lamé inner-sides. The collection with its formal and eveningwear outfits were complemented by puffed hairstyles and dangling crystal earrings adding a touch of opulence. An innovative dress with a separate neckpiece that could be modified and worn in different ways to change the look of the outfit won audience approval.
European designer Anna Gurgacz, presented audiences with a blend of lavish Arab designs and simple European fashion. Inspired by the fuchsia flower, the outfits came in multiple hues of pink. Tiered-sleeves were accompanied by stiff hip attachments and belts with intricate knit work. The outfits utilised stretch fabric, satin and crepe. Chiffon sashes were draped around the outfits giving them a soft touch.
Debutante designer Sarah Mrad presented her 10-outfit collection for the petite woman. Borrowing heavy French influences that manifested as short figure enhancing outfits and frou-frou dresses were adorned with bows, buttons as well as laser cut flowers. The 50s and 60s inspired dresses in muslin and tulle were reminiscent of old school Hollywood glamour.
Fresh designer Kay Li, dazzled audiences with her upbeat collection of 8-pieces that used traditional Fall fabrics such as wool and leather. Bubble skirts with sharp cuts were paired with pleated bodices. Symmetrical panelling made its way into narrow trousers as well as structured jackets. A backless pocketed gown with burgundy appliqués on the bust was followed by pin-tucked pants in grey accompanied by a grey coat with leather shoulders. Extensive zipper and pocket detailing added a futuristic edge to the collection.
Sophie Wanney‘s 9-outfit nature-inspired worked with minimalist designs aiming at the bold and powerful woman of today. Cropped jackets were paired with straight pants as panelled shirts with symmetrical patterns were paired with A-line skirts.
Sara Al Rafai’s 5-outfit collection infused colour and stylish cuts into the wardrobe of the young Arab woman. A black abaya with red bust appliqués opened the show. Dresses inspired by jalabiyas and abayas followed in hues of salmon, green and camel were paired with puffed sleeved bodices and long jackets.
Faheema K and Aisha Al Aleeli draw inspiration from culture
Faheema Kader – the first ever designer from South Africa at DFW – showcased her Fall/Winter line, titled ‘Gold Rush’, inspired by the country’s mineral wealth. The collection was lavish in its use of sequins, as embellishments found their way onto necklines, hemlines and along sleeves. Wide pants in black lace were worn over gold leggings, paired with corsets and elbow length gloves.
Highlights of the show included a long silk olive coat paired with a black skirt featuring gold polka dot appliqués and a tailored suit with red piping and matching back panel, offering a sneak peek into her upcoming men’s fashion collection.
‘Modest’ – Aisha Al Aleeli
Drawing inspiration form various cultures, Aisha Al Aleeli’s ‘Modest’ included a grey Grecian gown front panel combined with the black abaya silhouette; an exquisite pullover abaya with kimono sleeves and brocade piping and an Indian-inspired abaya, with sari-like draping accompanied by a floral, Swarovski-studded shayla. Other innovations included abayas with almond-shaped orange and grey appliqués and an abaya with a diagonal leopard print.
The collection progressed to glamorous eveningwear, after which the show closed with an elaborate cape of black, gold and silver lace with a monarch collar, and an elaborate design made from crystals.
Gulzeb attracts crem de la creme of Pakistan Community
The crème de la crème of Dubai’s Pakistani community were in attendance to support the debut of Gulzeb Asif at Dubai Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2011.
The stunning 37-piece collection comprising dresses, salwar-kameezes, lehengas and kaftans bore exquisite hand beading and crystal embellishments. Asian model Kiran Malik opened the show with a short red dress sporting a voluminous skirt. Kaftans in vibrant orange and forest green were followed by one-shoulder dresses in dual shades.
Encrusted necklines and bands running down the front set off dark-hued dresses. Salwar kameezes paired with narrow and wide trousers carried golden embroidery and embellishments that were set off by thin brocade borders.
A long black ‘kameez’ (tunic) with teardrop gold appliqués was paired with red trousers, followed by a series of salwar kameezes in rich purple and coral, trimmed with aqua piping. A black and fuchsia outfit with a matching ‘dupatta’ (stole) won wild audience approval.
The showstopper, a heavily embroidered red and green lehenga with a multi-hued dupatta, was worn by Pakistani TV personality, Mahroon Baloch, who was accompanied by actor Adnan Sidiqqui.
Drawing inspiration from everything around her, Gulzeb presented a primarily Eastern ethnic collection with hints of Western design elements.
Shrekahnth returns with futeristic 3D themed collection FW 2011
Having launched his first collection at DFW 2010, Shrekanth returned with his futuristic 3D-themed 2011 Fall/Winter line.
Flowing outfits were accompanied by elaborate head-dresses influenced by planetary symbols. With digital prints ranging from the natural to abstract images of space, the outfits utilised muted winter shades with dashes of colour in the form of geometric patterns.I nspired by Filippo Marinetti’s ideas on futurism, the 24-piece collection presented straight silhouettes and futuristic cuts.
Known for his signature digital printing and his meticulously researched designs, Shrekahnth’s outfits once again used minimal embellishments and allowed the prints to hold on their own.
Control boards and military-inspired prints representing the machine age were teamed with multi-hued patterned piping. Jumpsuits with astronomical patterns were followed by structured long dresses in satin and Habotai (China silk).
Models sashayed to the soundtrack of Stanley Kubrick’s masterpiece, ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’, as the Shrekhanth logo glowed in 3-D in the background. The audience was asked to wear supplied 3D glasses, as outfits with fluid patterns created the illusion of movement on still fabric. Shrekanth announced plans to start an accessories label, ‘Medusa’, which will comprise handmade creations from Germany.
Source: www.dfw.ae Press Release