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Made to measure
Haute Couture — French for high dressmaking or made-to-measure, and governed by the Chambre Syndical de la Haute Couture — is a specialised art form that thrives around the globe, especially in the UAE. Fashion takes a look at the ‘made-to-order’ creations of designer Rahil Hesan, owner of Warda Haute Couture and finds out why her creations are the hot new talk of the town.
In the brightly lit, chicly styled Warda atelier, ensconced amongst the villas and storefronts on Al Wasl Road, sits Emirati fashion designer Rahil Hesan, creative director and owner of the Warda Haute Couture and a woman on a definite fashion mission in Dubai. On first meeting the designer, one is struck by not only her poise and elegance, but by her outgoing nature, her warmth and a razor sharp sense of design. Chatting with Ms Hesan is much like being part a of a live fashion show; lightening speed, beautiful dresses, fabrics and sketches all around, and at centre stage is the designer herself.
The atelier’s name, Warda, is derived from the Arabic word for flower. It describes both the furnishings of the atelier, as well as the business itself. Like gardening, growing a business is a delicate balance of timing, nurturing, know-how and patience. A fashion business is the same. Where one sets up a shop, how they get their ‘design’ message across, who they know, their creativity and appeal to the marketplace, all play an important role in developing a solid business. For Warda Haute Couture, the timing, the appeal and nurturing have been just right, and the business is flourishing.
Rahil first dipped her designing shears in the fashionable waters of Dubai in 2005 when she opened her now well-know atelier and made her first appearance at Dubai Fashion Week. Many thought of the designer as a new comer to the design world, but Rahil had been designing for years prior to her debut at DFW and opening Warda.
A graduate of Cavendish College in London with a major in fashion design and minor in accessory design and textiles, Rahil is known for her meticulous detailing and laid back luxury. Her designs are always understated with feminine touches and unique embellishments that keep high profile clientele, like Sofia Milos of CSI Miami fame, coming back for more. Working in a palette of black and white, and colours that run the gamut from red to fuschia, with dollops of silver and Swarvoski crystals, her designs have an old world elegance and drape that belie her love of Christian Dior and Valentino, both masters of restrained femininity and made-to-measure creations.
Who is the Warda customer exactly? The answer is two-fold. It is a woman of discerning taste, who is looking for garments that are different, that are unique, knowing she won’t see anyone else in the same design, who seeks out Warda’s Haute Couture. It is also women of considerable income, as ‘made-to-measure’ pieces, whether in Paris, Savile Row or Dubai, require a considerable amount of time and income to invest in the creation. “My clients are overt, outgoing and individual,” Rahil said. “They like to be involved in every step of the process from choosing the fabrics, to the sketching of the garment, to the piece is finished,” she said.
However, all things are equal at the house of Warda Haute Couture, as there is a younger, hipper Prêt-à-Porter (ready to wear) line that is made for the modern woman, who is just as discerning in her fashion choices but that may not have the income or time to invest in custom pieces. “The new fashion line is a continuation of my spirit and my feeling for fashion, comprising all the details that I want to add to the shape of the garment, making it younger and cooler, but still with an attitude and style that make it a signature design of my line,” Rahil said.
When asked why the designer chose fashion versus another field, her answer was simple — passion. Like most artists in any field, success is based on one’s passion and love for what they are doing. It also helps to have an innate sense of style, couturier friends and a great design team.
DESIGNER FACTS
Things Rahil Hesan cannot live without:
1. Her mobile phone: staying connected to her clients and team is of the upmost importance when running a business.
2. A watch for telling time and staying organised.
3. A great pair of jeans — it is a style essential for any wardrobe.
4. Flats. Rahil is a bit outgoing, so needs comfortable shoes.
5. A pair of stilettos. Stylish clothing needs stylish foot wear
6. Great handbags: they are a favourite.
7. Money.
8. SPF lotion.
9. Lip gloss.
10. A make-up kit.
What recharges her creative batteries?
Travel, travel and more travel
Favourite places to recharge?
New York, London, France, Germany and China
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