Courtesy of Haal Inc.
Saudi Arabia is producing some of the most talented female fashion designers in the world. Each unique in their own right, the following top five Saudi fashion designers are creating timeless fashion pieces that could breathe life into any modest wardrobe.
Nora Aldamer – Chador
Nora is a woman to be admired. Having no formal fashion education, she was born and raised in Saudi Arabia and studied to be a clinical dietician and a Pilates instructor. But her keen interest in fashion and her view that there was a high demand for traditional clothing with top international standards, saw her launching her own line in 2013 – Chador. In fact, Chador was such a success that she won the Jeddah Vogue Fashion Experience Award. Recently, Rubaiyat and Vogue Italia joined forces to create an international platform for Saudi female fashion designers in Jeddah. Nora was invited to showcase her work, where Princess Reema Bint Bandar Al Saud, Editor-in-Chief of Vogue Italia, Franca Sozzani and Naomi Campbell were among the guests. Chador encompasses soft tones and a mix of traditional Middle Eastern female clothing with modern silhouettes.
Atulier – Samar Nasraldin
Samar was blessed growing up in a creative household with an artistic mother, for it kick started her love for fashion designing. Growing up in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Samar has once described her mother as ‘a visionary teacher who taught her daughter how to observe and create’. Samar’s dedication to designing fashion started at the age of 13. She studied fashion around the word, including the London College of Fashion and the International Fashion Academy in Paris. Having showcased her collections at many fashion shows, Samar launched her brand, Atulier in 2014. The name Atulier is a play on the word ‘atelier’ which means ‘studio’ and was used to emphasise fine craftsmanship. Atulier clothes are simple, yet elegant and sharp and Samar wants women to know that they don’t always have to look extremely feminine or girly.
Daneh Buahmad – Daneh
Daneh is a very talented Saudi fashion designer. Her label, Daneh, has been known to encompass one word – ‘grace’. Daneh knows what women want and what they need from their garments. Daneh also showcased her collection at the Jeddah Vogue Fashion Experience Award and was received very well. She likes to wear her own line, takes care of her son and is a mighty businesswoman. She is an inspiration to many young Saudi women as she is the picture of what Saudi women in the 21st century represent.
Mariam Bin Mahfouz & Nouf Hakeem – Haal Inc
The brain children behind Haal Inc, Mariam and Nouf don’t just stick with traditions – they reinvent them. Designing abayas, they made their debut in 2010 at a retail expo called Bisat Al Reeh in Jeddah during Ramadan. People loved their work and from there, Haal Inc scored itself a permanent home on the upper floor of Sotra in Ana, Special Mall. The word ‘Haal’ means ‘cardamom’ in Arabic and is a smell that every Arab can relate to. The duo want Hall Inc to represent the woman who wears it. They love mixing soft and hard textiles and creating contrasts. Their abayas are easy to wear and are designed as a whole look. As the duo say, ‘an abaya is a superhero’s cape and women are the modern-day superheroes’.
