How would you describe freedom?
The first thing that comes to mind is the power of expressing yourself. When it comes to Arab countries, we tend to think that the industry is being oppressed by its strong standards. Then, more importantly, we believe that particularly women fashion has the boundaries that getting it down.
Nevertheless, it is well-known that sincere art act frequently occurs in straitened circumstances. The idea grows slowly, awaits patiently to bloom, and finally shows the world its power.
Due to religious restrictions, Arab fashionistas are prohibited from wearing revealing clothes, necklined, and revealing legs outfits. So, they reclaimed, developed, and embraced the old traditional heritage ideas.
Now, the Arab fashion industry has no equal in the multi-layer outfits fashion. Not only do they combine their cultural and historical elements, but being supported by the regional and international fashion industries, which is only beneficial for the latter. Those are textiles, fabrics that attract European designers, for their traditional charm.
For instance, even European designers adopt those ideas into their art. Take Abaya – the traditional cloak-like dress that only man and his dog have not tried to influence yet.
Even Dolche&Gabanna used its idea for their last year’s collection – they decorated traditional clothing with their house patterns, adding sunglasses and hijabs. Not only such global fashion-house involvement helps spread the Arabian trends. It also serves to spread awareness:
Arabian fashion is not equal to bounded fashion.
Dubai is considered to be the most contemporary city in the Arab Emirates. Here not all women have to wear hijabs, but once you see a woman in one, she is a fashion queen, servin’ eleganza in a unique and original form. There are even knots they tie their hijabs to, and they look both artistic and ethnic-like.
Arabian traditional clothes frequently contain embroidery, fringe, and inlay – this is something art-like, worth being in galleries.
Apart from elegant, feminine outfits, Arabian fashion serves sports style. And it is not about tight-fitting leggings or anything.
This style presents baggy clothes such as sweatshirts, baggy joggers, and bombers. Those provide comfort and coziness, not violating conservative norms. Ladies like to smartly mix this style with high-heeled shoes, puffy midi skirts, and white blouses.
Accessories play a big part in Arabic fashion culture. Jewelry with large gems and ethnic oriental designs seems to be extremely popular. Then, fashionistas are luxe footwear huge-admirers, and they add expensive purses to their looks as well!
It is also worth mentioning that changes and modernizations may occur not only in womenswear but in menswear in particular. It is essential to reduce stereotypes of toxic masculinity combined with traditional conservative views that discourage men impress themselves.
The last Dubai Modest Fashion week took place in 2021, when several designers visited it, including Hukka, Gold Design Paris, Thread Palette London, Demure Duchess, Munamer, Najtags & Ranazone, and Asmiimah. You may read the interview here.
During the Fashion Week, menswear designs are also to be presented.
