Middle Eastern Brands To Know: Creativity And Modesty

by Sana Bun

Middle Eastern Brands To Know: Creativity And Modesty

18 Mar 2024

Newbies to the Middle Eastern fashion scene might think that modest fashion calls for simplicity and requires women to blend in. However, it isn’t completely accurate. Of course, the local culture and rules of Shariat demand that certain principles be adhered to, but at the same time, they don’t contradict creativity. These Arabic brands confirm it.

Harlienz

Qatar-based Harlienz was born to imbue a sense of individuality while nodding to cultural fashion. Even the brand’s name itself carries not only a paronymy to the designer’s name but also recognition of powerful women. The last ones, just for the record, are the label's loyal customers: Harlienz has been repeatedly spotted on power players from Diane von Furstenberg to Qatari Royals — Sheikha Moza and her daughters Sheikhas Al-Mayassa and Hind.

Instagram: @harlienz

The brand mixes effortless essentials with statement occasional pieces, and its aesthetics are grounded in the mix of detailed minimalism, architectural silhouettes, and craftsmanship, which are not tied to seasons and fast trends.

Dima Ayad

Dima Ayad, a Dubai resident with Lebanese roots, creates clothes that are meant to speak for themselves. Being obsessed with everything metallic, the designer focuses on chick yet effortless and relaxed outfits for special occasions that embrace inclusivity and make women of all sizes feel confident.

Instagram: @dimaayad

LN Abayas

LN Abayas came out of the desire of its founders, Lulwa and Noor, to offer the designs that they missed in the Qatari market. As a result, the duo launched the label reflecting their style that provides individualised designs with a focus on customisation.

Instagram: @ln_abayas

Bazza Alzouman

Bazza Alzouman, a Kuwaiti designer behind the eponymous label and atelier, set a goal of blurring out the gap between couture gowns and evening ready-to-wear outfits. To achieve this, she crafts her adaptive collections using advanced high-fashion construction techniques and stays flexible in aesthetics, fleeing from bold uncompromising opulence to sophisticated elegance.

Instagram: @bazzaalzouman

Tha Seen

UAE-based Tha Seen is another brand specialising in occasional wear. Keeping its finger on the pulse of the latest local trends, the label creates evening looks that can be customised or even made to order.

Instagram: @tha.seen

Hamda Al Fahim

Hamda Al Fahim, working on her designs in the heart of Abu Dhabi, develops ready-to-wear, bridal, and haute-couture collections inspired by the fusion of East and West. According to Hamda herself, the brand’s pieces come from the place where everything "glitters and sparkles". Apart from that, significant attention to detail is devoted to every stage of the creative process to deliver confidence and fulfilment to women who wear Hamda Al Fahim clothes.

Instagram: @hamdaalfahim

Dana Riad

Dana Riad is a Qatari luxury street-style brand for fierce women passionate about innovations. Built on the admiration for females of today, their tenacity, capacity, and impact, it merges heritage with modernity, encouraging women to follow their own rules and stand out.

Instagram: @danariadthelabel

Amal Al Mulla

Originating in Bahrain Amal Al Mulla is a ready-to-wear label focused on modern femininity and aimed to push the boundaries of how the classics are defined. To create a new kind of essentials, the collections are built on contrasts, opposing structure to fluidity, femininity to masculinity, strength to softness, and textures to transparencies, therefore balancing the pieces and forming a functional transitional wardrobe that works fluidly throughout the seasons.

Instagram: @amalalmullaofficial

1309 studios

1309 is a contemporary bohemian brand inspired by women. The core of its aesthetics features minimalism, femininity, and the combination of seasonal trends with a design perspective on the Qatari heritage. The label’s pieces depict a refined statement that celebrates the versatility of female nature and embodies fluidity and elegance with a contemporary edge through clean silhouettes, bold colours, and prints, which are often created in collaboration with Arabic artists.

Instagram: @1309studios

by Sana Bun