Creativity on the runway at DFW

Creativity, innovation and talent transpired on the catwalk throughout the fourth day of the Dubai Fashion Week, as four of the six designers made their debut and impressed the audience with their Spring/Summer 2010 collections.

Among the newcomers to Dubai's top fashion event was Shrekahnth Yedulla (Shrekahnth) whose Arabian Warriors collection was inspired by Islamic art and architecture.

Hits: Sheer tights painted pink from the feet up to knee high
Misses: Skylines designs don't render well on the kaftans

The young designer traced Islamic designs from mosques and skylines of Dubai and digitised them into modern art forms with contrasting colours, as seen in the wood cut print dresses as well as the skyline (Burj Dubai and Burj Al Arab) and Emirates Tower short dresses. There was something genuinely cute about the simplicity of the cuts in these pink, deep purple and yellow dresses, yet not so much in the kaftans and racer top hunter pants.

After the show, Yedulla expressed his gratitude for being able to showcase his first prêt-a-porter line at DFW. "My project was to create buyers relations and that has gone pretty well since I've had a couple buyers who picked about 20 pieces per style," he said.

Siddartha Tytler

Hits: Charcoals work well with glamorous garments
Misses: Not sure about the fuchsia and orange basket weave belts

Indian-based designer Siddartha Tytler was second in line yesterday to present his Dynasty collection, which was his first international show. "My main inspiration for this collection was the glamour of Hollywood from the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s," he said. The first part of the show featured asymmetric gowns, rousched draped dresses and jumpsuits with corseted tops in ivory, gold and blues, while the second part was all about charcoals and blacks with elegant embroided grey georgette gowns and taffeta gathered dresses. The collection ends with black embellished gowns and backless dresses with orange and fuchsia stripes.

Tytler got a bit technical and explained how he developed a tinsel silk and sequin sheeting so that his garments would reflect Hollywood glamour. "To get tinsel silk, you take silk georgette and spray gold dust on it. For sequin sheeting you take sequins one on top of the other, and it creates motifs on the jersey to make it stretchy and give it flow."

"Frilz" by Ash

Hits: Beautiful bejewelled bustiers
Misses: The barefoot ethnic look only works during a fashion show

It takes confidence and determination to introduce a collection to a new market with designs and styles encompassing various parts of the world. Yet that's exactly what Pakistani-based couple Aisha Saim and Saim Maqsood did with their show based on the concept of fashion around the world in 23 minutes.

The first model hit the catwalk wearing a typical Spanish flamenco red dress with black fishtail underneath. Following Oriental music paired with flowing and wide-sleeved gowns, belly dancer-type skirts with see-through bustieres and asymmetric pintucked pouf gowns, the collection moved eastward displaying Pakistani and Indian designs. Models were often barefoot as to represent the village girls of Pakistan, Ash explained.

Her strength is that she creates all the designs and stitches them using multi-head Tajima machinery on various silk and cotton based fabrics such as chiffon, chamois, shot silk, organza and Irish linen.

Michael Cinco

Hits: The magnificent wedding gowns with myriad-shaped crystals
Misses: Possibly too many crystals and brilliants

The award-winning designer pleased the fashion lovers who like "bling" and shiny outfits with his Impalpable Dream collection. He firmly believes that dreams are the one thing which doesn't cost money and said, "There may be credit crunch but not couture crunch."

Also inspired by Hollywood glamour, in the 1960s this time, Cinco created voluminous skirts with sculpted bodice encrusted with crystals and brilliants. Cast in monochrome glints highlights, his approach to luxury is nude bejewelled busters and see-through ruffled faux layers tulle skirt lined in purple velvet rosettes sprinkled with glitters. And that's not all.

"Pastel colours will be the trend for next season, that's why I used a lot of yellow, orange, nude, light pink and light purple," he said.

As for his wedding gowns, which received applause from the audience, they start with a nude body-hugging bustier with different sizes of crystals filling full at the top and disappearing gradually in the long skirt layered with pieces of tulle.

Salma Khan

Hits: The long and wide black headbands made for stylish accessories
Misses: Almost too much black for a spring/summer collection

Salma Khan Fashion House's collection was the last one to hit the catwalk and it didn't disappoint the fashionistas in attendance. It was Khan's first public showcasing of her abayas, which followed traditional cuts and designs but were embellished with crystals on velvet sleeve and neck lines as well as red velvet roses. In addition to abayas, the Dubai-based designer creates haute couture, ready-to-wear and wedding gowns.

The first part of her collection showcased poncho-type short chiffon dresses in asymmetrical layers and pastel colours – very appropriate for beach towns.

"I'm inspired by nature," she said. Thus her black fluid dresses with wings and a blue toga dress with coloured square stones on the neckline.

"I feel relaxed now and ready to go to a party," said Khan after the show.