Meet Madiyah Al-Sharqi UAE’s first designer to retail in US

As Dubai becomes the fashion capital of the Middle East with big names in the industry such as Chanel holding their shows there, it only serves the locals’ appetite for more fashion.
In fact, some of them have already been making waves with their designed attire and at the same time winning over the hearts of fashionistas.
It’s no surprise that this entire chic revolution really sets the ball rolling in the right direction. Out of it comes the very talented Madiyah Al-Sharqi, daughter of the ruler of Fujairah, HH Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al-Sharqi.
Born in a royal family, she had the privilege to be surrounded with high-end fashion. She noticed how tailors on duty fine-tuned the custom dresses with great finesse. That’s how Al-Sharqi’s infant obsession took off from there and finally turned into a lifelong career. “I grew up with tailors around the house and my mom would be 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.
Fashion has been her forte ever since and it means a lot to her.
“I’m 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,” she says.
To make her dream come true, she went on to study at the acclaimed fashion school Esmod where she learnt 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 explains, “I think every designer is unique with his or her designs. All the emerging designers in the region that I know produce distinctive collections. Personally, I believe my collections are very unique as I never cease to experiment a lot with colors, juxtapose fabrics and get creative with lengths and layers.”
Following this intuition of hers, she knows who her incredible designs are for. “The Madiyah Al-Sharqi woman is definitely a ‘present day’ Marie Antoinette — a powerful young woman who exudes both elegance and assertion freely,” she says.
Interestingly, one point that struck me during our conversation was that she doesn’t think of any particular celebrity while designing. More or less, she wants everyone to feel like they are shining when wearing one of her pieces.
Goals in life by and large become possible with inspiring ideas. And so everybody relates to them in their own way. Likewise, Al-Sharqi nurtures some that draw her attention. “I get extremely inspired whenever I travel. For that matter, I love Europe especially Paris because everyone here is incredibly fashionable and it abounds with striking architecture. 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.
Al-Sharqi’s heritage is clearly visible in her creations. “As an Arab designer, I always ensure that there is something there for my Arab clients. However, I do not necessarily design with my heritage in mind. I’d like to think 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 in this part of the world.”
When it comes to fashion, Arab women’s taste is quite sophisticated. “I think Arab women prefer to look 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 looks up to Riccardo Tisci (Italian designer) and Phoebe Philo (British designer).
The Madiyah Al-Sharqi label has become a huge rage now since its launch in 2011. She enjoys a big fan base today with women in New York admiring her designed collections when she made her debut at a multi-brand boutique Fivestory this year.
She finds it rewarding to be recognized globally for her great work in a short span of time. “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’m incredibly grateful for that,” she says.
Though she thinks it’s difficult to exactly say where she will be five years down the line, it’s easy to know why. The fashion industry is always very surprising and new trends emerge every day. Nonetheless, she continues to push the boundaries and make waves in her own right. In November this year, she would be unveiling her Spring/Summer 16 Collection at New York Fashion Week. True to her word, this milestone is one of them as she goes on to say, “I like to take one step at a time.”
Each collection of Al-Sharqi reflects something unique. Her AW15 collection comprises dresses with asymmetrical forms that flow freely. Not only this, they have also been made more glamorous with intricate beadwork.
What about tips to look gorgeous? “As a fashion designer, I can only suggest 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 knows what she likes about her world. “The fashion industry is an exceedingly busy arena and I’m always working, even when I go on holidays (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 and so forth. I appreciate every bit of it.”
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