Pomegranate passions

Every designer has an inspiration or a muse. Designer Maison Rabih Kayrouz was inspired by the pomegranate - a beautiful fruit indeed. The similarities between this fruit and a woman are clear, but to dedicate a whole fashion collection to the pomegranate is new and intriguing.

Speaking to tabloid! before his show on Sunday at Abu Dhabi Fashion Week, he said: "I was inspired by the pomegranate. I want it to be in my logo and all my branding. I want it to be associated with the house of Rabih Kayrouz. For me it looks like a woman. Its colour, how juicy it is and how it can be sour and sweet at the same time."

For fruit's sake

Kayrouz says he was first inspired by this fruit nine years ago but is now for the first time dedicating a collection in its honour.

"Since that time, I started seeing the pomegranate everywhere. I would stay at a hotel and the wallpaper would be made out of pomegranates. I rent a house and there are two pomegranate trees outside."

This is Kayrouz's first fashion show outside of Lebanon. "Maybe it was because of the pomegranate," he says. "The time was just right. Before then, I didn't feel that I was mature enough to present my work outside Lebanon."

Each of his dresses bears a name that is associated with the pomegranate. Speaking of his collection he says, "My dresses, I hope, are not vulgar. They are not styled like a mermaid - tight on the body - but they are sexy and comfortable as well. I design for the woman not for the model."

Stunning contrasts

This is true. Rabih's collection is comfortable with many layers and drapes. The colours are stunning, with stark red designs mixed with black for contrast. Red dresses were accompanied with high heeled black shoes and vice versa.

Some red and black dresses appeared as if the fabrics were haphazardly thrown onto the model. The collection also had lush green dresses. Again the colour was rich and stunning - the bold colours contrasted with red and black were the best part of the collection.

The shock factor was defiantly there but mellowing it down was a simple silver-white sequined dress with a trailing tail that felt somewhat out of place in the red and black fiesta.