Life & Style | Beauty & Fashion
A Fitting Finale
With the perfect touch, designers Walid Atallah and Neeta Lulla show what style is all about as Dubai Fashion Week comes to an end.
- By Jyoti Kalsi, Gulf News Report
- Published: 00:39 March 24, 2008
Collections by top couturiers Walid Atallah and Neeta Lulla and the presence of Bollywood star Bipasha Basu provided a fitting finale to the Isla Moda Dubai Fashion Week (DFW) on Saturday at the Godolphin Ballroom of the Jumeirah Emirates Towers.
Excellent facilities
The trade event, organised by Concept Events, had teething troubles in earlier seasons. But the third season was well organised with excellent facilities for media, designers and buyers. The selection of designers was good with many talented youngsters from the region presenting a diverse range of ideas and apparel alongside well-known local and international names.
"We have taken the event to a new level and we will ensure that it gets better every season. We aim to get more and more fresh talent from the region and big international names that should attract more international media and buyers to the event," said Marc Robinson, co-founder and show director of DFW.
Well-known Dubai-based Lebanese designer Walid Atallah presented the first of the two grand finale shows at DFW. Atallah is one of the first designers in the region to use diamonds and precious stones as an integral part of his designs and one of his signature creations is a wedding dress valued at $1.2 million (Dh4.4 million). His autumn-winter 2008 collection was designed to make any woman feel like a million dollars.
Bling
Titled "Be A Queen", the collection comprised elegant and extravagant gowns in a palette of gold, silver, yellow, emerald green, blue, red and royal purple. Subtle two-tone effects, feminine ruffles, pleats, lace and see-through inserts combined with Atallah's flawless cuts and construction and attention to detail provided a visual treat for the audience. There was plenty of bling with huge Swarovski crystals and gold sequins and embroidery.
Glamorous
The show ended with three glamorous wedding gowns in gold. The innovative designs included a bodice covered with a crystal mesh, a skirt and train decorated with sparkling fabric flowers and art nouveau-inspired metallic motifs.
"My designs are inspired by the art, architecture and landscapes I see during my travels around the world. But I wanted to present the collection first in Dubai because my label is based here and this is an important fashion centre," said Atallah.
Time travelling
All designers are time travellers in a sense because they are constantly thinking two seasons ahead. But thanks to the period films she has worked on recently, designer Neeta Lulla has been travelling back in time. The award-winning Bollywood designer spoke to tabloid! about balancing movie costumes and her private collections.
Excerpts from the interview:
How did you switch from the Mughal period to such a Western look?
It is not difficult. I just took a simple theme based on something that we all say quite frivolously and built the collection around it. In fact, it was a great relief to move from the bright colours of Jodhaa Akbar to softer pastels.
Why did you decide to participate in DFW?
Marc Robinson and Rohit Sabikhi have done a great job with developing this event and I accepted their invitation because they took a keen interest in the way I wanted to project my collection. I am also happy to support Concept, the organisers of the event and sponsors Isla Moda.
What are your plans in this region and in Dubai?
I am in negotiations to open a store in Kuwait and am looking at opening a flagship store in Dubai. I have a strong standing in this city, hence I do not want to rush things and will wait for the right opportunity. I want to ensure that my loyal clients here get the right product at the right price.
What is your outlook on Indian fashion and young Indian designers?
Indian fashion has come of age and is at the forefront globally. We now enjoy global acceptance, but the need of the hour is to be in touch with the pulse of the market, understand each market and adapt our Indian fabrics and cultural elements to the market. There is a lot of potential among youngsters and with the right guidance, backing and infrastructure they will go places.
You walked the ramp for an emerging designer at DFW. What is the secret behind your new trim look?
Hard work and determined dieting.
Were some of the motifs on the dresses inspired by your paintings?
Yes. Painting is my latest obsession. I often stay up till the wee hours of the morning working on my abstract and nude canvasses.
Why have you never participated in international fashion weeks?
There is no point in being there without a proper long-term plan. But I feel I am ready now.
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