Classic creations

With the holy month of Ramadan right round the corner, women from across the kingdom have started window shopping in search of the perfect jalabiya to commemorate the season.

To give mall shoppers a taste of the Arabesque styles on offer, Kempinski Grand & Ixir Hotel, in partnership with Bahrain City Centre (BCC), staged their quarterly high-tea Taste of Fashion event at the T-Spoon boutique café, with the spotlight on Bahrain-based design house Anmar Couture.

As more than 35 women, including VIP clients of Anmar Couture, fashion bloggers, members of the press and guests from Al Noor Charity Welfare Association enjoyed a selection of fresh fruits, fluffy pastries, yummy yoghurts and hot beverages, four models showcased designer Adeeba Al-Khan’s colourful summer creations.

The mother-of-five from Saar set up Anmar Couture in 1999 to offer women in the region a variety of oriental-inspired jalabiyas and bridal gowns.

Her latest collection features gorgeous greens for the Arab brides-to-be, stunning whites and bright hues of purple and red for a touch of glamour at ghabga gatherings.

While Adeeba prides herself on staying true to her roots, she also adds touches of modernity that can be seen through her cuts and Gatsby-inspired head dresses. Adeeba said: “Anmar Couture is all about traditional and cultural designs. I am in love with our history and that is what inspires my creations. I want to show my identity in my work and although I keep in line with the Arabic style, I still like to add a few modern elements from the fabrics and accessories used.

“These jalabiyas aren’t just made for Arabs, as a lot of expats fancy the cut, the colours and the quality. In fact, there has been a huge global craze for this style of clothing.

“Jalabiyas will never go out of fashion and I have already had a lot of women purchasing and booking their jalabiyas for Ramadan.”

After a parade of colour made its way around the café, Adeeba’s green gowns stole the show.

“In Islamic countries, women wear green for their henna night and milcha (engagement party in which the couple sign a marriage contract).

“I like to focus on the henna night jalabiyas because it’s just as important as the white wedding dress,” Adeeba added. “While many girls are out in search of the perfect white dress, many customers come to me for the elaborate hand-made green gowns. I have dresses fit for any occasion.”

Adeeba has three boutiques in Bahrain, two in Riffa and one in Bahrain City Centre. The brand has also grown in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. She has four in the neighbouring kingdom and two in Abu Dhabi. Her wallet-friendly jalabiyas range from BD35 for the every-day cotton dress to glitzy garbs for BD500.

While there was a variety of opulent jalabiyas to choose from, this writer was drawn to the first model to strut her stuff in a white gown with a sheer outer layer boasting gold embroidered sleeves and trim.

After the show, guests received complimentary gift bags filled with vouchers and treats from the retailer, BCC and the hotel. Several lucky ladies also walked away with additional prizes from the event’s raffle draw, which featured a BD100 gift voucher from the deisgner, a BD100 gift card from the mall and a 60-minute spa treatment at Pure Spa in the hotel.

Duaij Khalifa Al Rumaihi, senior mall manager for BCC, said: “We are delighted to once again be dedicating Taste of Fashion to Arabic women’s fashion.

“Women from the community were given a unique opportunity to learn about the latest Arabic fashion trends and see exquisite designs from an important retailer at Bahrain City Centre.”