DFW S/S 2011: the fashion’s much awaited-FURNE ONE

Furne One

The eagerly anticipated show by Furne One opened to a packed house at Dubai Fashion Week.  “Amato”, which means beloved, consisted of creations in varying intensities of gold and ivory, heavily embellished with Swarovski crystals.

The Elizabethan era inspired clothes were showcased in a performance, choreographed by the designer himself. The models wore a dramatic look, showcasing elaborately designed head accessories inspired by horses and royalty and made of recyclable materials.

Dangling chains, metallic cups and wooden forks were some of the innovative items used to create the head accessories to complement each outfit. Models donned Amato shoes and accessories in the form of neck-braces, band-aids, and support braces, in a bid to re-enact the war injuries.

The 33 outfit collection ranged from short hard-bodied dresses to wedding dresses with feathery trains and crystal embellished veils. Made of soft tulle, French lace and linen, the haute couture outfits were a strategic mixture of fabrics, in a bid to achieve a look that was both dreamy and glamorous.

Fresh off from London Fashion week, the collection, titled “I’m the Queen”, is a dream come true for every woman who wishes to feel like a queen. The bold and powerful cuts demanded immediate attention, while exuding qualities of fierce independence.

DFW S/S 2011 day4: Zaeem Jamal

 

Z for Z

With montages of clouds posing a question of belief in the unknown to the audience, Zaeem Jamal’s show began with a dance performance by a dancer with flowing silver wings. Gregorian chants set the stage for a mystical evening for an exquisite collection inspired by angels and seraphims.

Utilising mood-inducing and emotion-influencing colours such as sapphire blue, green, bronze, burnt orange, gold, lilac magenta and pink, the creations were a tribute to the unique philosophy of the “Z for Z” label. Each colour symbolized the traits and energy associated with the 10 angels the designer chose to represent.

Fluid capes with gold winged motifs, diagonal bands of tassels and sequins, as well as Indian silhouettes featured in the couture creations. The “Angels & Seraphims” collection presented pantsuits, maxi-dresses, salwar kameezes and short dresses in smart and simple cuts with bands of sequins interspersed with silk and chiffon.   

A ballet dancer in yellow preceded the showstopper outfit – a sequined sari of metallic grey, worn by Indian actress Minissha Lamba. Emblazoned with feathery white wings, the flowing grey train of the sari was held up by a male model in wings.

The outfits reflected the personality of the brand by incorporating spirituality and purposeful existentialism into their creations.

DFW S/S 2011 day4: Saher Dia

 

The much awaited Saher Dia Spring/Summer line dazzled crowds at Day 5 of Dubai Fashion Week. The creations on display were three types of gowns: evening wear, bohemian chic and bridal wear.

Simple gowns in gold, white and nudes with shoulder and bust embroidery started the show as models walked in from under an archway of flowers. These were followed by bohemian chic dresses with snake, leopard and other digital prints in pink, grey and silver.

 Gowns in varying intensities of red, orange, gold, emerald and lilac followed, in a bid to joyously usher in springtime.

Dia’s signature style of simple cuts with strategically placed Swarovski stones was evident in all the ensembles. A bold swimsuit-like outfit encrusted in purple and white crystals with a chiffon cape won instant audience approval.

The bridal collection that followed was a mix of white lace, taffeta tulle and satin, embellished with crystals and accentuated by trailing veils delicately dusted with the precious stones. The collection, titled “Glamorous” made ample use of gold lamé as an under-layer for patterned tulle, adding to the allure and shimmer of the outfit.

With the stroke of a master designer, Dia fused simplicity with elegant glamour. The luxurious dresses were aimed at those with a true passion for fashion.

DFW S/S 2011 Day3: FALGUNI and SHANE PEACOCK

Drawing inspiration from animal patterns, Falguni and Shane Peacock’s loud Spring/Summer line demanded attention and held attention in its celebratory tribute to life.

The designer duo indulged in a process of layering digital prints over one another to result in a uniquely glamorous look. The collection was set off by some of Dubai’s well-known socialite women, demonstrating its easy wearability.

Ready-to-wear outfits alternated with avant-garde creations containing innovative shoulder pads and the generous use of leather. Short dresses in yellow, nude pink, deep blue and crimson were interwoven with the liberal use of black that added to the collection’s timeless appeal.

Bold prints on short dresses and hard-wear dresses featured prints resembling bees, scales and tiger stripes, all animals on the brink of extinction. With top quality leather, lycra, chiffon, net and feathers coming together in a harmonious union of fabrics, the collection proved to be both wild and conventional at the same time. The futuristic collection incorporated triangle sleeves, unique layering patterns, leather piping, deep necks and puffy skirts encrusted with embellishments.

DFW S/S 2011 Day3: ROCKY S/PRIA KATARIA PURI

In the second installment to the Label 24 fashion show, the retailers showcased glamorous collections from designers Pria Kataria Puri and Rocky S.

Having dressed Saudi and Kuwaiti royalty and celebrities such as Madonna and Cherie Blair, Pria Kataria Puri returned to Dubai Fashion Week to present her Spring/Summer collection.

The collection was wholly inspired by Maharani Gayatri Devi, an Indian queen renowned for her distinct fashion sense.

The vibrant outfits in hues of bright green, teal, pale yellow and coral were emblazoned with digital prints of the queen’s jewellery pieces.

 Resort wear in the form of kaftans, knee-length dresses and long flouncy gowns carried the digital prints and as did the saris worn with ornate mid-waist belts.

 Models sported Bohemian glamour through their glittering headbands and bright red lipstick.

The Rocky S collection set the bar for bridal and festive attire this season with its heavily embellished gowns, saris and lehengas.

 Using base colors of ivory, black, and deep red, the collection experimented with surprising design elements in shades of burgundy, old rose and wine.

 Innovative details included encrusted shoulder pads rising high over the garment ending in tassels, as well as short coral and deep brown kurtis paired with shin-length nude leggings.

 The rich collection stood as a fine tribute to festive occasions.

Touted to soon be the UAE’s top designer collection, Label 24 plans its soft launch on Wednesday, 27th October, 2010.

DFW S/S 2011: Dubai’s Emerging Talents

 

The “Emerging Talent” show, sponsored by Max, set the ball in motion for Day 3 of Dubai Fashion Week. First in line, was Nasrine Dechache, with her debut collection titled “Montaigne”.

 

The collection used solid-coloured clothes and experimented with jersey and cotton, making them comfortable and ready-to wear. Nasrine worked with beige, navy blue and purple to emphasize talented cuts and silhouettes.

Wearing nude shoes to complement the outfits, models walked the ramp in jackets, harem pants, tailored shirts and a flowing knee length dresses.

 The five sets reflected Dechache’s multi-cultural background, as offering sneak peeks into Algerian and French fashion influences.

Based in Dubai, former model Nova Krishnan makes her foray into the world of fashion with her collection at Dubai Fashion Week.

 Her collection was a contemporary twist on traditional Indian attire with the view to make them multifunctional. Pale gold satin paneling and gold embroidery dominated the collection and was accompanied by crimson and fuschia robes.

 The outfits included a deep blue robe with gold work on the bust and sleeves layered with a brown frilly underskirt as well as an outfit of a shimmering gold bustier and a deep pink skirt fitted with a frilly purple trail.

Wearing one of her creations, Nova Krishnan took a bow in an outfit of fuschia and orange, with a twisted pink cloth effortlessly thrown over one shoulder with ease. 

Sachin Gada, with his petal inspired collection, set the stage ablaze in a display of dramatic colours and layered fabric.

 His collection followed delicately structured tiered clothes, with fabrics of varying hues, gracefully flowing over each other.

 A maroon bust was added to a short Victorian skirt styled with neckties in the black to pink spectrum, layered strategically to bring about the effect of a flower in bloom.

The outfits, in tree green, aqua, and marine blue, were a testament to the skills of a designer with a gift of creative layering.

Specializing in men’s wear, the Mumbai based Niteesh Singh Chauhan collection showcased six distinct Spring/Summer looks for the male silhouette.

 White dominated the collection, in a bid to represent the freshness of spring. Made of linen and cotton based fabrics, the collection included crisp white suits and jodhpurs embellished with buttons.

Tie and dye designs in red and green peeked through the white of the suits, which were added with innovative design elements like a two layered back-paneling of the jackets, which lifted to reveal tie and dye patterns.

The collection was inspired by life and the buoyancy of springtime.

Drawing heavily from Bedouin culture, newcomer Samah Ali experiments with the abaya-shayla combination to add an international appeal to the outfits. With black lace veiling the faces, black abayas flowed open to reveal scarlet and gold under-layers with matching shaylas.

 A particularly interesting innovation came in the form of an abaya with a frontal sun motif, revealing the cinched abaya waist, while retaining the loose flowing characteristic of the abaya. The designer wore a creation of satin orange tassels attaching the sleeves to the ankles of the abaya in an extended sleeve and with a matching shayla.

The Susan Jacob collection was dedicated to the strong, beautiful woman fighting cancer.

 Opening with a presentation offering words of encouragement to the patients, the collection presented five sets in pale pink and black Victorian lace. Models walked the ramp in short, ready-to-wear dresses that accentuated the female form.

 Wearing black gloves and minimal jewellery, the models flashed neck pieces reading ‘Don’t Give up’, addressed to every woman battling with cancer.

To close the show, Max displayed its Fall/Winter collection by marrying formal and casual on the ramp.

 Mustard yellows, midnight blues and floral printed dresses were accompanied by nude brown shoes and jackets. Denim leggings dominated the women’s line, while the men’s collection indulged in deep shades of corduroy.

 Thigh-length jackets in tweed, ankle length boots and leather jackets completed the collection.

DFW S/S 2011 Day3: Shrekahnth/Megha Grover

Shrekahnth/Megha Grover

Known for his fascination with Arabia, designer Shrekahnth, in his third year at DFW, presented a collection inspired wholly from Islamic art.

 The “Arabian Nomad” collection experimented with digitally printed fabrics of pure silk, chiffon silk and satin silk. Robes in pale yellows, deep greens, pinks and blues flaunted flowing hemlines with square necklines. Busts carried motifs of flying eagles and digital fabric prints were enhanced so as to appear like wings on the back of the outfits. With decorated war horses and other Islamic art elements emblazoned on the outfits, the designer was inspired by fabrics and textures dating more than 600 years, which were used for historical Islamic embroidery and artwork.

In trying to replicate nomadic textures with digital art, the designer also experimented with the famous Russian Matryoshka dolls on the outfits, bringing about a strategic blend of Arab heritage with Russian culture.

The geometric patterns of the outfits replicated Islamic culture and art, while indulging in prints representing painted glass motifs as well as digital prints resembling cellular phone circuit boards.

 The “Arabian Nomads” collection was followed by Megha Grover’s Spring/Summer collection – a set of pure white outfits.

 

Futuristic silhouettes merged with classic cuts as the collection displayed a variety of white ensembles ranging from short tube dresses to long gowns and pantsuits ending in jodhpurs. The crisp white collection of 15 outfits was embellished with crystals at the hemlines, sleeve ends as well as pant legs.

 A suit in white featured low cut pockets encrusted with the precious stones, as well as large necktie like pieces in full sparkle.

With hints of Bohemian elements, the outfits of silk, satin and lace pointed to an elegant, yet laidback summer.

DFW S/S 2011 Day 3: Nabrman

Nabrman, or “white flower”, is the brainchild of two Emirati women, who showcased their Spring/Summer collection of abayas on Day 3 of Dubai Fashion Week.

 The classic loose-fitting and flowing abayas retained their shape and form, whilst being embellished with subtle prints and satin sashes. Three of the outfits incorporated light digital printing of green and blue bands in varying intensities on their sleeve ends as well as along the edges of the skirts.

The 16 piece collection inserted hints of glamour while preserving their essence of minimalism.

The abayas presented were modest but equally high on the elegance quotient, representing the personality of the UAE-based brand. The models were accessorized with minimal jewellery and black shoes so as not to distract the focus from the abayas on display.

Daywear abayas were accompanied by satin sashes in baby pink, violet, brown and ivory. The sashes were draped over the abayas in innovative ways, resulting in a variety of silhouettes that transformed the traditional abaya into works of art.

The eveningwear abayas factored in more glamour as they were complemented by brightly coloured satin gowns that were overlaid with the sheer black fabric, touched up with a shimmering finish.

The collection was clearly aimed at the modern Emirati woman who wishes to keep up with the latest trends, while holding steadfast to her of values of modesty and simplicity.

DFW S/S 2011 Day3: Homa Q

Opening with a live opera performance, Homa Q displayed her collection of abayas and shaylas with élan. The designer, who is of Pakistani origin, inculcates a variety of international influences in her abayas, including that of 18^th century textile design as well as Moroccan cultural elements.

Inspired by the likes of Queen Rania of Jordan, the collection, with its structured tailoring and modern cuts, is aimed at the bold Arab woman.

The 16-piece set used silks and brocades that were embellished with careful detailing and tasseled ends. Fluid robes of green, silver and purple were covered with fine black abayas.

The shaylas employed minimal embellishments, save for delicate colour piping. The models walked the ramp to Beethoven’s 7^th Symphony, displaying tapering silhouetted abayas and turbaned shaylas in a splendid display of creativity.

Outstanding ensembles included an abaya with a black-beaded pale gold bodice, abayas with single sleeve embroidery as well as exquisite gold rings around the neck and sleeves of the abayas.

The show came to a close with another operatic rendition by a singer in a shimmering creation by the designer. Having dazzled the community with her debut at DFW last year, the Spring/Summer collection is testimony to Homa Qamar’s growth as a designer.

DFW S/S 2011 Day2: ROHIT KARMA/ ABDUL HALDER

Label 24 – Rohit Karma/Abdul Halder

Debuting at Dubai Fashion Week this year, retailers Label 24 are all set to take the Dubai fashion industry by storm. Showcasing two of their 4 designer talents, Rohit Kamra and Abdul Halder, Label 24’s collection was a display of the label’s emerging talent. 

 

 

Rohit Karma kicked off the show with his men’s wear collection. Blending East and  West, the collection brought out the Indian Maharaja in the modern man. Hailing from the Indian city of Jaipur, his local influences manifest themselves on the runway in the form of jodhpur s, high collars and Nehru vests.

The collection makes ample use of the cloth shading technique that is characteristic to Jaipur fashion. The formal wear presented laid a heavy emphasis on crisp cuts, while making use of subtle ethnic designs, thereby balancing the finer elements of both cultures.

Abdul Halder presented a trousseau collection aimed at the modern bride, incorporating Indian designs into traditionally Western silhouettes. Lehengas of deep red were accompanied by pale gold churidars and sarongs. Saris in pale blue and baby pinks were worn with sequined blouses, while long silk skirts with heavy embellishments were paired with solid coloured corsets.

Halder used silk as a fixture in all his outfits ranging from crisp white pant suits to varying hues of scarlet, pink and midnight blue. Anupama Verma of Label 24 and a former supermodel, was radiant in the green showstopper 2-piece combo made entirely out of deep green tulle and silk. The flouncy tulle skirt and its V-cut shirt was set off with a chunky silver neckpiece.