Monday, May 20, 2013

New York, London, Paris, Milan and...Dubai?


 
 
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.
 
 
 
 

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