Dubai is the fashion capital of the Middle East and the rest of the world is equally eyeing the dynamic fashion trends that the city of Dubai has to offer. London, Paris and Milan, are all passé, but Dubai is here to steal the limelight and make it big! Post the pandemic, Dubai is emerging as a prime fashion capital and shopaholics from across the globe are heading here to get their hands on all the fashion labels that are in vogue. Through this Blog, we introduce you to 5 emerging luxe fashion designers from Dubai who are budding from their roots and growing exponentially.
#1 Nathalie Trad
Lebanese Designer – Nathalie Trad is a common name amongst the crème de la crème. Many celebrities and well-known dignitaries have endorsed the brand and trusted its emerging vision. Nathalie curates wearable pieces of accessories (purses) that are unique and handcrafted to perfection. Her artsy collection of handbags is put together using materials such as exquisite shells, vibrant colors, and playful textures that build layer upon layer. She has earned a credible list of celebrities that include; Princess Deena Abdulaziz, Nicole Kidman, Razane Jammal, and Olivia Palermo.
#2 Rami Al Ali
Rami Al Ali is a Syrian-born designer who rose to the Dubai fashion arena in the year 2001. Ever since then, his bold creations and blossoming couture designs have been the talk of the town and even made it to leading fashion magazines such as; Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, and Business of Fashion. Al Ali is truly unstoppable and his collections have featured across events like; Couture Fashion Week in Paris, Asian Games in Qatar, and many more. You can spot his ready-to-wear evening gowns and bridal design collections on top celebrities like; Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Jennifer Lopez, Naomi Campbell, and Beyonce.
#3 Bouguessa
Faiza Bouguessa is a Dubai-based fashion designer who showcases ready to wear labels that portray contemporary fashion designs & techniques. The brand ethos is rooted in minimalistic sophistication that brings to the fore feminine elegance. The clean cuts and impeccable detailing of work is demonstrated in her collection of abayas and hijabs, thereby giving a modern twist to the hijab-clad fashion essence.
#4 L’Afshar
Internationally acclaimed designer L’ AFSHAR unites art, architecture and accessories to curate handcrafted handbags made in Dubai. The vintage collection of box clutches is a clear winner and a ‘must have’ in every feminine wardrobe. Her artistic sense of style is influenced from global influences from London, Vancouver, Marbella and of course Dubai in the Middle East, though her roots are from Iranian background. L’ AFSHAR’s handcrafted bags can be spotted on Celine Dion, Anne Hathaway, Nicole Kidman, Kendall and Kylie Jenner, amongst other top personalities.
#5 Nafsika Skourti
Nafsika Skourti believes in modern tailoring and works meticulously through print designs and upbeat textile fabrics. The brand keeps in mind the sensitivity of the female voice and celebrates every facet of woman’s feminist personality. Every piece from her collection, is highly revered for its supreme quality, comfort, and versatility. Nafsika got the opportunity to train in haute couture embroidery at Ecole Lesage in Paris and is now a go-to designer for the who's who of the fashion world.
Dubai is taking its fashion business seriously and its revenue is said to increase by 11.8% in 2025 from US $2,337 million in 2021. Consumers are looking for variety and are investing heavily in apparel, despite the slowdown of the pandemic. Budding designers are getting an equal and fair chance to evolve, thanks to the advent of digitalization and social media marketing. You know what they say, ‘life is too short to wear boring clothes!’
