This signature piece

Sophie was in for a surprise when she walked into the trial room of the Godolphin Ballroom at the Jumeirah Emirates Towers. The garment she was to try on a red, white and black outfit of napkins, tablecloth and plastic didn't quite fit among the other evening dresses displayed on the gleaming steel rack.

The sylphlike Dubai-based model couldn't help but stare at the stylish bricolage of odd pieces that were sutured into a garment.

Stupefied, she exclaimed, "How unusual!"

Though she was excited about wearing it on the runway for the Emerging Talent Show at Dubai Fashion Week (DFW), she wondered whether she would be able to carry it off to elicit a positive response from the audience.

The designer, Deborah Anne Simcox, hoped for the same and more. She designed the signature piece, which was part of her debut collection, to raise money for the charity Aid in Motion (AIM), which supports underprivileged people in East Africa and the Middle East.

For Simcox, fashion has been a raison d'être. She has to her credit in-depth fashion industry knowledge in areas that include production, textile and design.

She says it is the industry's excessive and self-consuming nature that emboldened her to give back as much as possible to the community. So she joined AIM in Dubai eight months ago and continues to be an active ACR (Area Collection Representative).

Simcox's designs are non-conformist, and as such, her debut collection of 10 pieces including the signature piece adheres to the same philosophy. "It is the first time I have created something like this," says the designer enthusiastically.

Prior to the launch of Sartori Sartori her brand of luxury evening wear she worked at The Thomas Burberry Design Studio in London and DKNY in Manchester in the UK, and as a designer and brand manager for beachwear brand Bambu Beach in the UAE.

The idea for the signature piece "just sort of happened" a few weeks before the DFW.

"Sticky Ginger PR was handling public relations for Ruth's Chris Steak House, and I was intrigued about creating a wearable outfit from the restaurant's material like napkins, waistcoats, uniforms, paper, plastic, bags, aprons and tablecloths. The concept was avant-garde and in line with my own brand philosophy," she says.

Thus Simcox set out to design according to her preferred moulage or French pattern drafting technique, often described as a form of sculpting with fabric on a mannequin.

"It was challenging to create a new shape from items that have an existing shape and purpose," she admits.

Still, she picked up the gauntlet because she was familiar with the decor material, elements and colour themes of the restaurant.

It took her about three days to design the garment. "Rather than sketch, I worked on a mannequin, twisting and pleating bits of fabric and other materials into various shapes and silhouettes. I worked on a support bodice, padding and boning material for structure," she says. The signature piece was received with expected encomium at the Godolphin Ballroom during the DFW (April 5-9). And Simcox says she is glad that the collaboration paid off in more ways than expected.

* The Monarch Hotel showcased the signature piece in its lobby after the DFW to raise money for AIM.