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Fashion culminates here in the UAE, as it is a major hub for talented fashion designers from across the globe, showcasing their creativity. With the country’s ongoing cultural and economic exchange with various nations, the fashion here is a brilliant mix of traditional and modern styles. The UAE’s fashion industry showcases diversity, creativity, and style, with blends from various cultures.
There are so many opportunities for even new entrants to this market you wouldn’t have in other countries, note industry insiders. “For an Indian designer, it will be a dream come true if I could do some outfits studded with handcrafted jewellery pieces from Indian states, with a blend of Odisha ikat, the handloom motif India’s eastern state is world-famous for. The idea is to make pieces that withstand the test of time with intricate details, breathable fabrics, and timeless elegance,” said Ramkrishna Pattnaik, Owner of his label Ramuli Creations. Ramuli — as the fashion designer likes to be called as it resonates with his label— aces in juxtaposing Indian craftsmanship with contemporary fashion with fabric from his birthplace, the eastern Indian state of Odisha.
Be it Emirati fashion designers, Filipino designers, or Lebanese designers, to name a few, who are shaping the fashion landscape of the UAE, there’s already room for more and new names in the country, home to locals and expats alike. “The UAE appreciates arts and culture across various ethnicities. It has such an inclusive social environment that celebrates diverse cultural festivals. I’ve also observed Emiratis and the expat community in the nation have a rich taste for original creations. Given an opportunity, I would like to blend our handlooms, such as ikat motifs of Odisha handloom and Indian jewellery embellishments, into ethnic wear that the Emiratis would like to give a try,” said Ramuli, who was exhibiting an ethnic-inspired line at the annual community event Utkarsha 2024 by Odia Samaj Abu Dhabi at the India Social and Cultural Center in the UAE capital. Sunjay Sudhir, the Indian Ambassador to the UAE, was the chief guest of the ceremony.
An alumnus of India’s reputed fashion institute NIFT, Delhi, Ramuli is optimistic about collaborating with designers from other parts of the globe in the UAE. “There’s immense exposure to expand to the rest of the world. Whenever I visit Dubai or Abu Dhabi, I see people who are so stylish. They have a great sense of fashion, styling, makeup and the presentation of a complete ensemble,” added Ramuli.
By Arunima Mishra