DUBAI: After teaming up with US celebrity model Ashley Graham to showcase her Summer 2023 collection, Lebanese designer Dima Ayad showed off looks from her Fall/Winter 2023 line at Dubai Fashion Week on Tuesday.
Metallics shone through in the new collection from the designer who is known for championing size inclusivity. A textured gold dress stood out on the runway, while metallic collars on thobe-like dresses and electrifying pops of blue in varying shades caught the eye of many a fashion industry insider on the front row of the show at Dubai Design District.
Titled “Freedom in Color,” rouching, patternwork, fringing and marbled textiles were all on show as Ayad offered up a textured collection that mixed and matched with abandon — plisse fabric in magenta was paired with a sequined underskirt in the same color in one example of the designer’s marriage of materials.
The designer highlighted regional talent by sending Tunisian plus-size model Ameni Esseibi down the runway in a glittering gold coordinating set.
Ayad is fresh off a campaign featuring US plus-size model Graham — a celebrity catch for the Dubai-based brand.
The label released the promotional video on Instagram late last week, sharing a glimpse of its Summer 2023 collection.
In the video, Graham shared motivational words with her and Ayad’s fans as she shows off a colorful, sequined and patterned dresses.
“Your words have power so make sure you are speaking well over yourself,” Graham said in the short campaign clip. “Don’t talk bad to yourself. It’s not nice. Don’t follow people that are going to make you feel bad about yourself. I’m talking, like, push the unfollow button on Instagram. It is kind of empowering.
“You are never going to be ready enough for the thing you are constantly preparing for, so stop constantly preparing and just do it,” Graham added in the video.
