No longer just a source of inspiration for the fashion industry and beyond, the Middle East is a bustling hub of design talent. Hot on the tails of established Lebanese luminaries Elie Saab and Zuhair Murad, there are countless emerging designers from all areas of Southwest Asia and North Africa to London who are lighting up runways across the globe with distinct contributions to contemporary fashion. It’s a very exciting time for the region, and for the industry itself, so we put the spotlight on the emerging labels to have on your radar.
PHERAHS
Created by art collector Ferah Sancak, PHERAHS offers a range of bags and scarves influenced by art and history. Motifs including galloping horses, suns and wolves are present throughout the brand’s designs, reflecting the purposeful symbols that appear in traditional art. Through fashion and accessories, PHERAHS aims to transfer cultural knowledge across generations.
Moushe Designs
‘Unconventional’ is the name of the game for Moushe Designs, with jewellery ranging from puzzle-shaped ring sets to bracelets adorned with encrusted dice. Standing out even more is the brand’s use of upcycled packaging and low volume production, allowing consumers to enjoy the sustainability and uniqueness of their pieces.
Bovenue
Adore classic handbags? This London-based Saudi Arabian brand fuses modern design with a hint of nostalgia. With structural shapes inspired by the bag collection of the founder’s grandmother, Bovenue’s pieces truly stand the test of time not only through design, but also through the use of high quality natural materials.
Shewak Designs
Shewak Designs questions convention, with unorthodox garments such as the ‘swirl sandal’ – a double-heeled statement shoe – and the ‘signature 3 sleeve hoodie’. The studio’s fashion line, titled ‘endswithNS’, is built on the concept of materialising organised chaos, speaking to those who prefer to express themselves outside the confines of a box.
Turana Atash
Producing modest swimwear and resortwear that can be worn by all, designer Turana Atash’s namesake brand takes Western beach style and develops it with the Middle Eastern view in mind. What results is a luxurious range of designs that empower the wearer, from full coverage swim tops to streamlined one-pieces made for taking on the surf.
