Pierpaolo Piccioli is the creative director at Valentino and has honored the Middle Eastern woman by designing a 15-piece collection of abayas with a haute couture flair.
Unveiled exclusively at Qatar’s Doha Design District, the modest collection has been designed to mark the 2021 edition of #QatarCreates, which is a week-long initiative that highlights Qatar’s fashion and design scene.
Each of the abayas designed by Piccioli is unique in fabric and color, and elevate the noted graceful silhouette of the traditional garment for women. Visually, you can expect a palette of metallic and jewel tones of royal blue, turquoise, vivid reds, and a vibrant pink on textures of cashmere, crepe, luxe velvet and silks.
Some of the most noteworthy pieces include royal blue abaya lined with a metallic interior, layered over a hooded dress, another is an entirely gold lurex abaya, embroidered with gold sequins which are offset with a soft pink cashmere lining. The abayas have a couture like volume, as there is also a deep red cape featuring oversized bows, placed over a pink entirely sequined dress. Each abaya is hooded, creating synchronicity throughout the collection.
The installation of the couture abayas will be displayed alongside Valentino’s fall/winter 2021 couture collection and the 12 artworks that inspired it.
Valentino joins the ranks of Dolce & Gabbana, Oscar de la Renta, and Tommy Hilfiger in the luxury and high fashion industry’s goal to create diversity and inclusivity by making it a point to include modest wear and abayas in their product offering.
In Doha, Pierpaolo Piccioli isn’t the only couturier who’s work is being honored, as from November 6th 2021 until March 31st 2022, Dior will display more than 200 haute couture gowns for the first time in the Middle East at the Christian Dior Exhibition “Designer of Dreams” in Doha’s M7. The exhibition will also include nine looks from the collection of Her Highness Sheikha Moza Bint Nasser, co-founder and chairperson of the Qatar Foundation.
Valentino’s exclusive abaya collection will be available to purchase via private appointment until November 5th 2021 at Doha Design District.
