New
York, London, Milan, Paris. For any self-respecting fashionista, the penny (or
rather, Dirham) has already dropped. They are all eclectic, elegant cities that
are synonymous with the world of fashion. Their history is cemented in
thousands of books, their designers worshipped the world over, and the iconic
trends will remain on high-streets and runways for many years to come. In
short, their influence on the industry is timeless.
However,
as the world we live in becomes one that is dominated by mass commercial travel
and our travel plans become more ambitious every year, it seems no country is
off limits for us to be inspired by when it comes to our wardrobe. The world is
our oyster! Our grandparents may not have even had a passport, our parents may
have been the pioneers for exotic adventures but we, today, seem to have become
transient in our very nature. Of course, we all have a natural bond and love
for our homelands, but we know that the opportunities to travel and sample
other cultures are limitless.
Globalisation is all around us.
It’s in our cuisine, home decor, on our TV’s, our art and literary choices and
in our fashion. Many up and coming cities are on the cusp on joining the likes
of London, Paris, and Milan when it comes to being fashion-forward cities of
the world. Our very own Dubai is perhaps one of the key burgeoning cities
that must be mentioned. Dubai can often be labelled as a conservative
city, not a word that resonates with leaders in the fashion industry. However,
while Dubai is a conservative city and one that upholds its strong customs and
faith, it offers a unique opportunity to see how an influx of nationalities and
a transient, ambitious youth movement has created an unexpected, yet deserving,
fashion ‘it-crowd’.
A fashion capital is a city which
has a major influence on international fashion trends and as the undoubted
fashion capital of The Middle East, Dubai certainly ticks that box. The
sceptical side of me should also point out that it has been said many times
that fashion in Dubai, in terms of real people, day to day, is actually quite
boring. A trip down London’s Oxford Street, Manhattan’s 5th Avenue
and Champs-Élysées in
Paris is a visionary feast for the eyes, full of colours, crazy looks,
sky-high heels and make-up and hair to make you do a double-take. A trip to
Dubai Mall or a walk along the Marina won’t give you that same shock value, but
you will see impeccably dressed men and women, albeit with a little-less flesh
on show. The Dubai-based designers taking the credit for some of these
glamorous creations are making a name for themselves across the world thanks to
their beautiful and elaborate abaya designs. Handmade fabrics in an array of
colours and styles are being praised for their beauty around the world. In this
year’s Spring and Summer catwalk shows, many fashion houses have already used
Middle Eastern colours and prints to inspire their designs and it is not
showing any sign of slowing down.
So whilst Dubai might be lagging
behind its crazy, eccentric fashion counterparts, its take on fashion is unique
for that very reason. Within the dress code that exists, Dubai has managed to
create a burgeoning fashion industry that is both modern and traditional.
Fashion may have no limitations, but here in Dubai, it does. Local customs are
honoured and respected but the dedication to look glamorous is so strong that
Dubai is still able to draw attention to itself and its fashionistas. The fact
remains however that Dubai is known for being brand-focused and all about
having the must-have designers and looks. Having the on-trend brands and the
money to buy them is worlds apart from other cities and their consistent need
to push the fashion envelope and be daringly different. On-trend or
trendsetter? Two very different looks, possibly the very dilemma limiting Dubai
from reaching the dizzy heights of the fashion industry.
