Three winners of Dubai International Fashion Week's emerging talent contest bring style, daring and colour to the catwalk.
It's all about personality and Dubai's emerging designers have bundles of it. After winning the chance to show off their talents on Tuesday — Day Two of the runway events at Dubai International Fashion Week — newcomers Maryam Badri, Kanchan
Korwani and partners Amber and Koko offered 20 outfits each, holding their breath for the response.
Under the spotlight in the Royal Ballroom at the One & Only Royal Mirage hotel, a packed house was treated to 35 minutes of elegance, drama and creativity holding the promise of successful careers ahead.
Amid the flashlights, clapping and cheers of encouragement, here's what I saw.
Maryam Badri
Young UAE national Maryam Badri took us on a rainbow ride that oozed femininity, movement and grace.
The owner of Tiramisu, a Bur Dubai boutique which she opened a year ago, warmed us up gently with a custard chiffon dress, grounded with sequined panels under the bust and down the middle.
It was followed by a mustard frilly number, two shades of green, blue garments in hues from electric to midnight, then from purple to pink and maroon to various reds before culminating in four black dresses.
Each evening gown was floor length, in light sheer fabrics from chiffon to dentelle. Sensual figure-hugging silhouettes underlined with flared fishtail ruffles were a repeated theme of the collection.
Among the highlights of the show was a burgundy ensemble that faded to fairy pink at the back and featured a layer gathered and pinned with a sparkling diamanté butterfly.
One tight-fitting black satin dress sported white flowers on the left shoulder. But its alluring piece de résistance was a half-length waistcoat trimmed with long spaghetti tassels swishing in the model's wake.
Beautifully fitting bodices, layered lines and intelligent use of sequins revealed this was a designer ready to compete with the best.
Kanchan Korwani
Indian-born Kanchan Korwani brought her heritage into play with a wealth of bright colour, bountiful beading and bold statements. While she can be justly proud of a collection with many triumphant achievements and a few outstanding contenders, there were a couple of confused pieces that needed a rethink.
Short, flirty and fun were the dresses in pretty pinks with silver sequins, wild tassels and plenty of bling.
Daring cuts included a backless cerise pink top, while bodices encrusted with heavy glass beads combined opulence with youth.
The audience put their hands together for a trendy ensemble comprising skin-tight golden trousers topped with sequinned panels barely preserving the modesty of the bust above sheer brown chiffon over the torso.
Other notable pieces included a pink and gold embroidered mini skirt beneath a bare midriff and an unusual bat-wing sleeved blouse that saved its length for the back.
One of the few disappointments was a strapless dress with sequinned bodice that used a mix of three clashing shades of blue that appeared random.
But all that was forgiven when savouring the most stunning of her creations: a sophisticated combination fit for a princess. Striking turquoise second-skin churidars (tight trousers) highlighted a long and elegant gold-green coat with silver detail and an embroidered phoenix on the back.
If potential is the name of the game, this designer is a player.
Amber and Koko
Design duo Amber and Koko — Amber Feroz, from India, and Kaukab Khan, from Pakistan — presented their collection under the unexplained title Doris Dulce.
Using a host of models handed the brief of exuding attitude, the creators clearly wanted to stand out from the crowd. And that they did, but not necessarily for the right reasons.
While achieving their aim of giving new life to bits and pieces of fabric and accessories, it resulted in a slightly sloppy, unfinished feel.
Raw-cut materials trailed unsightly threads by design while ill-fitting garments were poorly presented.
One elegant black print dress with a long trail was demeaned by over-sized cups that protruded empty from the bust.
Although it may have been done on purpose, it simply undermined the wearer's natural assets and, no doubt, her confidence.
Another example was a champagne full-length dress (which the model tripped up on( featuring unattractive cups that looked badly made and last minute.
There were some successes, however.
These included a black and white strapless short dress with haphazard sections of a grid design sewn on.
Also, a round of applause rewarded a model wearing a baggy gold dress made of large teardrop beading that jingled and jangled as she jogged up and down the runway.
Another hit was a multi-tiered ivory satin dress that embraced the unfinished edges it displayed.
Yes, there were flashes of inspiration but on this showing Amber and Koko have a long way to go before proving themselves as designers who do "different" well.
