In a dramatic short film shot in and around Sharjah's abandoned Al Madam village, Amato Couture kicked off the inaugural Men's Arab Fashion Week on Thursday with the unveiling of its first men's collection.
The 13-piece capsule collection by Amato Couture's Filipino creative director Furne One featured all the signatures that have made the Dubai brand’s womenswear such a success – including a muted palette, ornate embroidery and embellishments.
Fellow Dubai-based Filipino designer Michael Cinco may also be better know for his couture gowns, but he showcased a men's line that was similarly rich in its use of luxe materials, sharp cuts and exquisite detailing.
While technically genderless, Lebanese label Boyfriend the Brand presented a line of stunningly simple pieces. The brand's founder, stylist and art director Amine Jreissati, served up voluminous playsuits, classic shirts, roomy trousers, tailored shorts, and T-shirts emblazoned with Arabic calligraphy, all conceptualised and produced in Beirut.
Also taking a gender-fluid approach to their collections were EGONlab and Anomalous, which is helmed by Rabih Rowell, one of the youngest creative directors and stylists in the Arab region. Born and raised in Lebanon, Rowell moved to Dubai in 2018, and launched his clothing line a year later at the age of 19.
Roni Helou displayed his customary edgy aesthetic, as did fellow Beirut resident Eric Mathieu Ritter, who founded clothing brand Emergency Room in 2018, in an attempt to inject ethical and sustainable practices into the fashion industry. The brand uses locally sourced vintage materials and dead-stock fabrics to create one-of-a-kind pieces.
Take a look through the gallery above to see more from this first-of-its-kind event.
