DUBAI: Saudi designer Samar Nasraldin has been wowing international fashion addicts in Milan with her designs inspired by Saudi heritage and culture.
Nasraldin, along with 39 other designers from the Kingdom, is showcasing her contemporary ready-to-wear designs in Milan with the Saudi 100 Brands initiative during White Milano, the international apparel and accessories trade show that famously takes place alongside Milan Fashion Week.
The event, from Sept. 22-25, is part of White Milano’s EXPOWHITE program.
In an interview with Arab News, Nasraldin said: “I’m so happy to be here. It is my first time presenting in Milano and I’m so happy and honored to be a part of the Saudi 100 Brands and to come here with the fashion commission; it’s such a great opportunity for us as a brand.”
The Jeddah-born designer chose to present her spring/summer 2024 collection in Milan.
“What we do is celebrate women’s individuality, and this collection is the ultimate celebration of that, because we used a lot of blue colors, very soft colors and neutral colors, as well as very fluid fabrics,” she said.
“We tried to do something that combined some references from the Saudi heritage, but in a very modern, international way. So, we didn’t do embroidery or prints, in fact, we used pattern-making as a way to convey the heritage into our designs,” she explained.
The designer, who launched her brand in 2015, explained the modernization process by giving an example of the veil, which she said is part of Saudi culture. “We did it in a modern way to make it look like a hoodie,” she said.
Nasraldin said that the feedback from the international audience so far had been extremely positive.
“It’s been very busy. We got great reviews from people. They are intrigued to see how we can modernize the heritage and identity into something international,” she said.
White Milano and Saudi 100 Brands this week hosted a gala event against the backdrop of the historic Palazzo Serbelloni in Milan.
Nasraldin recalled that night and said this was the moment she was most proud of in her career.
“It was the dreamiest moment I’ve ever had in my life. It was so nice and so gorgeous. It was very well-organized,” she said.
The fashion show featured a number of pieces from the collections of Saudi fashion talents — ranging from couture, ready-to-wear fashion, handbags and footwear — and were showcased at the event using scenography and choreography and featuring dancers from the renowned La Scala Theatre.
Entering the international market was Nasraldin’s goal for her label, which she said she was able to achieve with Saudi 100 Brands.
This is not Nasraldin’s first international showcase. She has previously presented a show in Paris after she graduated from IFA Paris in 2013.
She also presented her collections during New York Fashion Week and London Fashion Week.
