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Vibrant colours, intricate handmade designs and Palestinian pride adorned the catwalk at the Gulf Hotel's Awal ballroom as fashion lovers flocked to support the stricken community.
More than 200 women attended the charity fashion show organised by the Women for Jerusalem Society in aid of schools and orphanages.
Palestinian products such as patterned platters, bottles of olive oil and embroidered mobile phone holders were on sale outside the ballroom along with a collection of paintings.
While Arabic beats played, models draped in embroidered shawls, jackets and female thobes took to the stage showcasing an assortment of modern designs created by popular Palestinian fashionista Intisar Farekh-Khalifeh.
Appealing to both young and old, she aimed to maintain the traditions and authenticity of Palestinian fashion with an added modern twist. For example, she turned a regular embroidered thobe into a feminine and flowing cat-suit.
The fabulous creations ended with a spectacular wedding gown fit for a Middle Eastern princess.
A fund-raising raffle draw was held after the show with a selection of prizes including a return flight to anywhere in the region and one lucky winner of the ticket draw took home one of the designer's thobes.
Many organisations and individuals also donated funds to the Palestinian cause such as the Ibn Khuldoon School with BD500, Children and Mother's Welfare Society raised BD2,000 and Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, Information and Culture Minister, who bought 50 tickets to the event.
Palestinian Hana Al Khatib, 51, a housewife, from Tubli, said: "The thobes were absolutely beautiful. Palestinian thobes used to be embroidered mostly in black and red but now there are so many colours to choose from.
"Mrs Intisar really outdid herself. The styles and cuts are very appealing and can be worn with almost anything.
"I felt as though I was home again, even if it was only for a couple of hours."
Wedad Shehab Al Din, 42, a housewife, from Saar, also enjoyed the show, especially as her daughter, Rana, modelled some of the designs. She said: "I was taken aback by the event. I felt so proud to see Rana walk out. The show was well organised and truly captured the essence of Palestine."
A Women for Jerusalem Society spokeswoman added that the event brought the thobe back to life. She said: "During the Palestinian troubles many had to leave home and many women were not able to take all their belongings such as their thobes. Now we can wear them proudly once more. Also, the young women that modelled our fashion really brought us to tears."
The show was sponsored by Somerset Bahrain and Somerset Doha along with Michel Hair and Saloon that created the hairstyles and provided the make-up.
The event, organised by the society's public relations officer, Niveen Bitar, was held under the patronage of Shaikha Hind bint Salman Al Khalifa, president of the Information Centre for Women & Children and the Children and Mother's Welfare Society.
