“Anyone who does not believe in miracles is not a realist,” said Audrey Hepburn. And Lama Taher, for one, is. The young Saudi designer and creator of LUM has earned a masters degree in psychology before she switched paths to chase her dream and give fate a chance. “I went to London for six years. After obtaining my masters degree, almost two years ago from London, I realized I wanted to give my academic mind a break and nourish my creative side, so I decided to develop my intrinsic interest in fashion and design,” said Taher. Taher started off with designing simple cotton t-shirts with a “feminine touch” and casual tops for her first collection. With growing popularity and instant demand for her designs, Taher said, “I started to design abayas for several loyal clients. When that trial period proved to be successful, I launched an abaya line.” Before the Ramadan of 2011 she began a whimsical journey to designing thobes. “I designed a few thobes to cater to the market's need and that turned out to be successful as well. I like to cater to my clients' needs,” Taher humbly added. Taher believes the Saudi fashion scene is gradually shifting from “extravagance to simplicity and elegance.” She said thobes and abayas are becoming more modern and less restricted, adding that the modern Ramadan wear (Kaftans) are becoming diverse and flexible and suitable for different ages, cultures and occasions. Taher told Saudi Gazette that the LUM 2012 Ramadan collection offers dresses that could be worn as jalabiyyas during the holy month of Ramadan as well as throughout the year. “They are modest yet practical and easily wearable, as the Ramadan is all about family and modesty.” Believing that women make a conscious statement with fashion during Ramadan, pastels are the trending colors that Taher has used to further accentuate her designs. “The signature of this collection are the pastel colors and soft fabrics accommodating the summer trend. Our lace trademark is found in every piece,” Taher said. LUM's Ramadan collection boasts of a variety of casual yet sophisticated cuts in light cotton daywear designs. She has used silk and chiffon in her designs for fancy gatherings and enchanting festivitals. “It's easy blending modernity and culture. Our culture dictates the type of outfits we wear, just like Ramadan thobes,” Taher explained. Taher plays with colors and fabrics to blend in a contemporary feel. “I love mixing and matching colors and fabrics till I get the right combination. For me designing is like playing a puzzle. There is a right color for every design and a right cut for every fabric.” In the future, Taher has big plans for LUM as she plans to take her Saudi fashion line to an international level. “We currently sell in GCC countries. Our next step is to sell in other countries in the Middle-East before moving to Europe. We will be soon launching our first baby collection, which will be dedicated to my niece.” Hepburn, Taher's inspiration, said, “Everything I learned, I learned from movies.” And just like her, Taher admits that her love for fashion was inspired by classic movies and her idol's everlasting beauty. Taher's pick of the season: “Our favorite piece is ‘Pink Snow'. It's soft, elegant and classy. It can be worn for various occasions. It's all about effortless elegance. A great piece of clothing, in my opinion, is one that makes a lady look like she didn't try too hard to stand out, making her look very elegant and feminine.”
