DUBAI: Part-Middle Eastern actress Yara Shahidi was on hand as designer Sarah Burton presented her final collection as the creative head of Alexander McQueen in a Paris Fashion Week show attended by the who’s who of Hollywood.  

“Bittersweet Goodbye @alexandermcqueen. I’m grateful to have witnessed (and worn) Sarah Burton’s magic on the McQueen runway … until her next adventure,” Shahidi, whose father is Iranian, posted on Instagram on Sunday.  

Burton, with a profound respect for legacy and an unmistakable innovative touch, presented her magnum opus for Alexander McQueen Saturday night, the Associated Press reported.  

Her task had always been titanic – to step into shoes left empty by the enigmatic genius of Lee Alexander McQueen. The fashion maestro’s unexpected departure wasn’t just a personal loss; it marked the end of an era of theatrical, emotion-laden masterpieces. But Burton, rather than just filling a void, lit it up. She wielded her tapestry of design, interweaving McQueen’s audacious spirit with her softer, more feminine aesthetic. This dance of duality was evident in her farewell collection, where each piece told its story. The slashed bodices, the evocative blood-red laced spines, and the influence of Polish artist Magdalena Abakanowicz’s work showcased an artistry that was both fierce and tender. 

No detail was left untouched. From the profound artistry of British royal Kate Middleton’s wedding gown — a garment that transcended expectations — to her final collection’s poignant motifs, Burton proved her mettle time and again. The iconic rose, emblematic open-heart embroidery, and the magnetic close by Naomi Campbell in a sculpted silver bugle bead dress, all converged in a collection that was both homage and evolution.

And as the last piece sashayed down the runway, the room — filled with powerful editors and actresses like Cate Blanchett and Elle Fanning — rose in a rousing standing ovation. 

For her part, Shahidi showed off a red, sculptured dress from the new collection as she sat on the front row. According to the label, Burton’s “McQueen Anatomy II” collection was inspired by female anatomy, Queen Elizabeth I, the concept of the blood rose and the work of Polish sculptor Magdalena Abakanowicz. 

DUBAI: Middle Eastern designer Rami Al-Ali has become the first Syrian fashion designer to be included in the BoF 500 list, the Business of Fashion’s index of the people shaping the fashion industry.

“Privileged to be included in #BOF500 2023, thank you @imranamed for your trust and your vision,” posted Al-Ali on Instagram, acknowledging Imran Amed, the founder and CEO of BoF.

While Al-Ali has had a loyal celebrity and royal following in the Middle East for years, more recently he has dressed global stars including Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez and Naomi Campbell.

Al-Ali has demonstrated a commitment to nurturing young designers through mentorship programs with the Esmod Fashion Institute in Dubai and the Dubai Design and Fashion Council. He is the founder of Ard Dyar, an initiative dedicated to empowering upcoming Syrian talents by connecting them with accomplished leaders in the industry.