UAE born fashion blogger and founder of The Fierce Diaries, Nadya Hasan, reveals her account of this region’s biggest fashion event, Fashion Forward Dubai. She takes us backstage, frontrow and brakes down the collections of some of the latest talents showcased. Nadya is known for her keen eye to pick new and upcoming designers, and the AzyaaMode team is thrilled to give our readers a glimpse inside her FFWD experience.
by Nadya Hasan
Fashion Forward
Another season passed and another great success to the Fashion Forward team and all the great designers that showcased at the Fashion Weekend.
Each year, fashion forward gets bigger, better and all with a better crowd and selection of designers. Being tiny little me, I couldn’t attend all the shows and get a chance to go backstage for each and every designer showcasing but I sure did get the chance to watch some of the greats…
Ezra
Ezra has to be one of my favorite couture designers here in the Middle East. He works with true passion and elegance. His show is always one to watch as he does love the dramatics of everything! The models were all dressed in his organic gowns and were all inspired by his ancestors’ heritage back in the Philippines. Just to add the extra drama, the show ended with damsels in distress just to have their prince charming pick them up right at the end of it.
Dima Ayad
She grows year by year and gets better at it. Dima Ayad’s designs might not be for everyone and I truly believe she designs for a particular type of woman. I don’t think I am tall enough to look good in many of her designs. With that said, I do love her incorporation of fringes. It is on trend and she has nailed it!
Jean Louis Sabaji
Personally, I had never heard his name before but after attending his show I will never forget it. I got the chance to have a first look at the collection backstage and the pieces all had that dramatic show effect. The models ended up walking the runway like flowers from a botanical garden- which was his inspiration. Have you ever watched the cartoon Thumbelina? Well, that’s what the models looked like to me!
House of Nomad
Over a year ago, the House of Nomad boys were just starting off with their fashion line. This year they showcased a full collection that was remarkable. They really surprised everyone with what they created and schooled most of the designers who have been at it for years. Now, their collection might not be red carpet material but that’s even better! Watch me next season of Paris Fashion Week wearing some of their runway looks!
Madiyah Al Sharqi
Bravo on another stunning collection! Madiyah Al Sharqi works the pastel colors very well and she really knows how to compliment a woman’s body and be modest with it. Some of her looks can be your average office attire and others can be worn in cocktail parties and big events. She is one designer everyone should pay attention to!
Taller Marmo
The Italian creatives have based themselves in Dubai and are taking the fashion scene by storm. Often mistaken by their controversial styling, they still manage to grab our attention with their beautiful collection. A mixture of tweed, denim and feathers; you can never go wrong with that combo!
Backstage
As usual, backstage is a place for only a few, and fortunately, I got my backstage pass to cover it all for you! Makeup done by some of the M.A.C’s pro makeup artists and hair by L’Oreal with some fantastic hair ART! It was a hot mess to walk through backstage and being over towered by all the models and being told off by the bouncers and producers on what to do and what not to do! In the end, I got some snaps for you guys to see!
FROW
Previous seasons at FFWD – the FROW would be crawling with random people and with no organization. This year, well only the people who mattered the most had the best seats in the house- meaning; Editors, Buyers and people who do matter to the brand! So thank you Fashion Forward for sorting this out for us!
