Feminine dresses with an edgy twist…

As Dubai makes headway toward acquiring the crown for being the trendiest fashion capital in the Middle East and to be seen as another world class luxury location for famous names in fashion like Chanel to hold their catwalk shows here, it also acts as a stimulus for curious indigenous minds determined to make a mark of their own on the fashion scene.
In fact, they have already been making waves with their designer pieces and winning the hearts of international buyers at the same time.
No wonder this entire chic revolution really sets the ball rolling in the right direction. One promising example is Madiyah Al Sharqi, daughter of the ruler of Fujairah, Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi. Born into a royal family, she had the privilege to live a life beset with the so-called ‘high-end regal fashion’. She noticed how tailors on duty fine-tuned the custom dresses with great finesse. Her infant obsession took off from there and finally turned into a lifelong career. “I grew up with tailors around the house with my mom designing clothes. I would see the process of designing and tailoring which I really enjoyed and so I always knew subconsciously that this was something I wanted to do as well,” she says.
Asked what the world of fashion means to her personally, she replied blissfully, “I am really happy to be a fashion designer and I couldn’t imagine doing anything else. I had a dream and I fulfilled it — If I look back, there wouldn’t be anything I would have done differently.” To make her dream come true, she went on to study at the acclaimed Esmod where she learned the technical side of fashion. During her studies she interned with various designers which gave her a lot of insight into the creative process.
Talking about her designs and what really makes them stand out from the rest in the region, she explained, “I think every designer is unique. All the emerging designers in the region that I know produce distinctive collections. Personally, I believe my collections are very unique as I like to experiment a lot with color, juxtapose fabric and get creative with lengths and layers.”
Following this intuition, she knows who her incredible designs are aimed at. “The Madiyah Al Sharqi woman is definitely a ‘present day’ Marie Antoinette — a powerful young woman who exudes both elegance and assertion freely,” she believes.
Interestingly, one point that struck me during our conversation was that she doesn’t think of any particular celebrity while designing her styles. In fact, she wants everyone to feel like they are shining when they wear one of her pieces.
Inspirations vary from person to person who relate to them in their own way. Likewise, Al Sharqi nurtures some that draw her attention. “I get very inspired when I travel. I love Europe, especially Paris because everyone here is incredibly fashionable and the architecture is beautiful too. I always feel the need to create when I’m there. It’s a beautiful city of effortless glamor and timeless allure, which is what I like to incorporate into my designs,” she says.

Love for heritage
She admits that her heritage is clearly entwined in what she creates. “As an Arab designer, I always ensure that there is something for my Arab clients. However, I do not necessarily design with my heritage in mind. I like to think that my designs could be worn anywhere and not just in the Middle East. I offer women a way to take pride in their culture but with a more international perspective, which is what people really appreciate here.”
And when it comes to fashion, the Arab woman’s taste is something to reckon with. “I think Arab Women are extremely stylish; they manage to merge daring elements with a conservative twist without looking too contrived,” she says. “I adore the way Arab women dress — it’s not just about spending lots of money on well-established designer pieces. They are also more willing to invest in emerging brands for a unique look.”
In the fashion world, she has role models like Riccardo Tisci (Italian designer) and Phoebe Philo (British designer) whom she looks up to and feels inspired by.
Touching people’s way of style
The Madiyah Al Sharqi label has become a huge rage since its launch in 2011. She enjoys a big fan base today. On being recognized for her great work in a short span of time, she said, “I can honestly say that I feel really blessed to have support; I feel that the local market has taken my work very well. I always feel honored whenever I see someone wearing a Madiyah Al Sharqi outfit. The excitement never fades and I am incredibly grateful for that.”
Asked about the plans for her brand five years down the line, she replied soberly, “It’s difficult to say where I will be five years down line because the fashion industry is always very surprising and new trends emerge everyday. I like to take one step at a time.”
She is so good at her work that each collection of hers has something to be mad about. Her AW14 is no different with a look back to the dazzling 1960s. “I think I am constantly inspired by a mixture of the 1960’s and the Age of Enlightenment. For AW14, I decided to stick to a pastel pink, white and beige color palette. The fabrics I used consist of cashmere, organza, crepe and embellished lace. For an edgy 60’s look, I decided to incorporate white and pink gingham to several of the pieces, which is my favorite element in the collection. I think it’s so feminine, yet so bold at the same time,” says Al Sharqi. “I like to use Jacquards as well.”
“What about the tips to look gorgeous?” “As a fashion designer, I can only suggest that if you want to look beautiful without becoming a victim of overindulgence, I think it’s important to invest in pieces that are elegant and timeless but feel free to mix and match those pieces with a unique modern print — this will give you an elegant but edgy look.”
But most importantly, she had this to say about what she likes about her world: “The fashion industry is incredibly busy and I’m always working, even when I go on holiday (especially then!). However, I absolutely adore it because everything in fashion is so fast moving and it never gets boring— the events, the fashion shows etc. I appreciate every bit of it.”
—
Email: [email protected]