DUBAI: Dubai Fashion Week came to an end on Sunday night, but not before regional and international labels showed off their latest collections on the Dubai Design District runway.
Sunday night saw Dubai-based celebrity designer Michael Cinco — who has created gowns for the likes of Beyonce, Lady Gaga, and Jennifer Lopez — showcase his latest line while British supermodel Naomi Campbell hit the runway for Malaysian luxury fashion house Rizman Ruzaini.
Cinco's vibrant collection was an ode to Spanish culture and boasted capes, embroidered fabrics and oversized epaulettes adorned with sparkling stones. Short fiery red-and-black blazers riffed on matador fashion, while corsets, skirts, and short playsuits built out the versatile collection.
Meanwhile, Rizman Nordin and Ruzaini Jamil, unveiled their collection of 60 looks. Campbell hit the runway in a handmade gown adorned with thousands of glistening gemstones. This collection drew inspiration from the enchanting tale of Seri Gumum, a legendary dragon that once roamed the dark waters of Lake Chini in Malaysia.
Before that, a number of labels jostled for attention on the runway, including Anaya, Erick Bendana, Ihab Jiryis, Designers & US and Valentin Yudashkin.
Dubai-based label Anaya, founded by Kiran Chaudhry, unveiled a couture collection marked by chemise-like tops, organza creations and expertly tailored trousers in nude tones. Other colors in the collection included a mix of pastel hues.
Erick Bendana’s "Sky" collection saw shades of blue, lilac and white presented in seven wedding dresses. Chemise collars, floral designs, and broad shoulders added oomph and drama to the collection. That was followed by a number of evening gowns celebrating the “enigmatic beauty of the night,” according to show notes. Inky black gowns adorned with feathers and sheer fabrics and subtle hints of shimmer marked this portion of the collection.
The third and final part of the line saw gowns in a palette that included yellow, orange, pink, and red signifying the break of dawn.
Meanwhile, Palestinian designer Ihab Jiryis showed off a collection that explored the concept of recycling the past, symbolised by the incorporation of aged papers that were transformed into statement accessories.
Dubai-based brand Designers & Us presented a collection titled "The Swan Couture" — a collaborative effort by designers Jean Charles Zakaria, Alaa Sarkis, Nivine Bashiti, and Fouad Khoury, as well as their in-house talents. Feathers served as the leitmotif of the collection and adorned the sleeve of some looks while enveloping the entire gown in other designs. Flowy capes, slits, cut-outs, and sheer textiles were also spotted on the runway.
Valentin Yudashkin celebrated its 30th anniversary its “A Woman in Time” collection that drew inspiration from the Renaissance, Antiquity, Baroque and Art Deco periods, melding these influences with Middle Eastern and Asian elements.
