Designers at the Arabia Fashion Week cater to the opulent style needs of the Middle East

Starting off day One of the Arabia Fashion Week (AFW) ’09 on a royal note was designer Akl Fakih’s collection of evening dresses and wedding gowns – a marginally vintage set bearing a blend of contemporary and classic cuts and shades. Adding that extra touch of glamour was the presence of Arab singer Diana Haddad in the audience.

Next, Djemila, Red Flower and Aguilera Couture showcased three distinct collections of abayas and jallabiyas offset by funky embroidery and appliqué illustrations.

The last show of day one began with Italian designer Hilda Maha’s youthful, ready-to-wear collection while Saudi Arabian designer Al Yashmac’s set of traditional Arab womenswear brought the night to a close.

Pakistani designer Sarah Gandapur showcased her collection of ready-to-wear fusion designs on Day Two of AFW. Also seen during the show was the commercial debut of Jyoti Sharma’s label Bahnuni and Roxx’s ensemble of Eastern lehngas and dresses.

The last show of the day featured Jad Ghandour with his line of Haute Couture and Ahmed Al Reyaysa’s extensive range of eveningwear and classic wedding gowns.

Alicja Czarniecka, Marco Marcu and Ekaterina Kulikova lit up the ramp with their chic designs on the last day of AFW. Also featured in the show were Etxart & Panno and Orkais and Faisal Khan from India.

A traditional, folk-flavoured couture line courtesy Asyla for modern Arab women and a range of brightly coloured dresses from designer duo Nadal and Zihar brought the three-day event to a close.

davina@khaleejtimes.com