At day two of Dubai's first digital Arab Fashion week, it was the homegrown talent that made the strongest standing.
The best show of the day was Aavva, with a dazzling collection that put sustainability at the fore. In reaction to the pandemic, designers Ahmad Ammar and Vincenzo Visciglia used only fabric left over from previous collections. The resulting looks are as ebullient and colourful as they are kind to the planet.
Daywear in glossy purples, greens, pinks and yellows, this was bright, brash and uplifting, taking the form of off-the-shoulder tops and side-tie cullottes.
Eveningwear arrived with contrasting coloured belts over layers of pastel tulle, toughened up with slicks of shocking lipstick. By using so called 'dead stock', the label is able to reduce its environmental footprint, but the Lebanese and Brazillian designers managed to do so without compromising attitude.
Sophia Nubes
Sophia Nubes also commented on the pandemic, by teaming its well-cut pieces with face masks on the runway. With sharp tailoring running through a collection that travelled from padded gold coats to 1980s peplum jackets.
The best look was the last evening gown. Strapless and with a deeply cut away front, the face mask and gloves brought a new twist to dressing for dinner.
FAD
The students of FAD Institute of Luxury Fashion and Style Dubai showed their graduation collections in a show that moved from evening wear to abayas with great effect.
The best pieces included a beautifully cut, fluid evening gown carefully gathered to hug the hips, and worn with a shrug tied with a bow.
The abayas were particularly good: there was one decorated with hand painted panels, and a Mondrian inspired coat, its cuffs accentuated with distinctive grid work and block colours.
