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Trend-setting Dinz sisters
Trendsetting Rina and Dina Zahran - famous for glam interpretations of traditional Arabic ghutra scarves - tie up the loose ends and go for that extra flair with T-shirts
- By Natalie Long, Deputy tabloid! Editor
- Published: 23:32 November 5, 2008
- The sisters have a successful fashion label before the age of 25.
- Image Credit: Megan Hirons/Gulf News
The Dinz sisters, armfuls of plastic bangles jangling, doe-like eyes flashing and brightly-coloured shoes tapping, are almost too cartoon-like to be real.
Like the heroines of a manga novel, they giggle sweetly, but like all comic-book stars, the cuteness has to give way to a superpower. Theirs? I can't quite put my finger on it, but I think it's got something to do with creating a successful fashion label before the age of 25.
Rima and Dina (aren't they just the best names since Salt'n'Pepa!) Zahran are probably most famous for their cute-yet-glam interpretations of traditional Arabic ghutra scarves, which they've been selling under the Dinz label for a little more than two years.
But they actually got their start hand painting T-shirts for friends, and now, they're going back to their roots with a limited-edition collection of little tees.
"You know when you can't find what you want?" asks Rima, 25. "We like to dress casually but not sporty. We like to wear casual T-shirts — but with heels. We couldn't seem to find the right T-shirts here, they were all big and baggy or really fitted tops. We wanted to do something in the middle. Dina started making them for her best friends and so we thought ‘let's do this professionally'."
"We became very famous for the scarves," she continues. "But we didn't just want to be known for the scarves, because we really are a T-shirt brand, so we combined the two to bring it back. Once you see everyone wearing scarves, it's time to move it forward."
The result is a limited edition collection of five t-shirts and five tank tops, hand painted with the Dinz signature designs, and with a mini scarf ingeniously attached.
"The scarf is smaller," says Rima, "and you can just clip them on and mix it up."
The mini scarf, made in a lighter fabric than the traditional ghutra, is already draped around the neck and attaches to the t-shirt with two small clips.
There are scarves in traditional colours, like the Gulf red and white and the Palestinian black and white, as well as maroon, green and blue. "You can wear them with flats or dress them up with heels and a jacket," says Rima.
The t-shirts are plain white or in bold colours, with the label's cute touches like embroidered lips, the hand of Fatima or butterflies.
"My favourite's always blue, but the Brazilian [in yellow and green] is my favourite this time," says Rima. "And it has the little detail, the butterfly. We always like to put small details, like the butterfly, that don't always show. It's kind of like having a hidden tattoo."
The duo — younger sister Dina is just 20 — get their clash-of-cultures inspiration from their background. Born to Palestinian parents in Spain, the two have lived in Dubai for the past 10 years.
Satisfying
Rima says: "We feel very mixed and that shows in our work. Most people in Dubai can relate to our pieces. They know a bit about Arab culture and a bit about the West. The most exciting thing is when we go to cities like London and see people wearing our designs! It feels really good. It's satisfying and we feel it was worth all that headache and trouble."
So how do the sisters — when they're not cracking each other up with some joke or other — work together?
"Because we're sisters, we don't have a formal relationship," says Rima, who though more smartly dressed on the day of the interview in a black jumpsuit, admits she spends most of her time in jeans or Juicy Couture.
"We don't get into each other's business too much. Dina is into the design; I'm more into the business. She designs the t-shirts and I'm more into the scarves."
Then they erupt into giggles again when they realise how different life is not from their original plan. Dina, the artistic hand behind the designs, ended up doing business at university, while Rima, Dinz's business brain, studied graphic design.
"It was there and I was pushed into it, but I always wanted to be in fashion," she says.
"We're really determined and we really put our heart and soul into it. We could not afford to not let it happen," Rima declares.
"So many people said we're just another label. We realised we have so much passion for this that we had to make it happen. Our dream is to have a Dinz store and sell worldwide."
The next step for Dinz
"Accessories! We've made very limited styles until now, like bangles and earrings," says Dinz designer Dina Zahran. "They will also have an Arabic influence. We're taking it to another level, with gold and silver.
"They're not very expensive, but they're very attractive. We love collecting things, things that make your outfit, like bangles. Even the scarves are an accessory at the end of the day."
How to wear the scarf
"You can wear them differently," says Rima. "We look like we have the same style, but Dina always wears flats and sports shoes and she wears the scarf in a different way. She says I'm a grandma! Each person has their own style. Dinz is not a whole outfit. We want you to do your own thing."
Where to find it
The Dinz limited-edition t-shirt collection is available at Dubai Ounass stores in Emirates Towers Boulevard, Wafi and Souk Madinat Jumeirah. T-shirts are priced at Dh300 each.
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