Mariam Nihal Saudi Gazette Fresh out of Coachella and rounding up Fashion Forward, the Middle East's favorite fashion affair, Saudi Gazette brings you a glimpse of what's trending this season. KAGE Initiated by Arwa Abdelhadi and Basma Abu Ghazaleh, KAGE was formed in 2009. The exciting brand was one of the best collections Fashion Forward saw in Dubai this year. The label is stocked in various stores across the Middle East. The contemporary brand is a regional favorite. Designers tend to use lace, velvet, furs, luxurious tweeds and metallic embellishments with striking pieces including playful skirts, intense and statement makers including jackets and dresses. The brand speaks about self-expression and fashion freedom that allows strong and playful characters to take on an adventure. This season saw a reflection of vintage, sophisticated liberation with a chic confident vibe for leaders, entrepreneurs, the fashion conscious and the daring. You can find them online at www.boutique1.com, www.notjustalabel.com, www.shopclosetcandy.com and www.gojiboutique.com NOSH Saudi designer Nora Al Shaikh, founder of her fashion label NOSH, is gearing up for the new season with “Fluer De Lis” collection. “The new collection represents the lily flower, which is an ancient symbol that had been used in the 17th and 18th century by the French. Historians have said the three petals in the lily flower represent the three social classes in the medieval times. They represent those who worked, those who fought and those who prayed. I was truly inspired and came up with the collection.” She told Saudi Gazette, you can find casuals, abayas and evening wear at Nosh that are designed to compete with international brands. She said each collection is a story in itself. Every season has a collection that offers creative cuts for abayas, cool T-shirts you can wear every day. Her last collection saw caped abayas and hoodies that seem to strike a chord with the contemporary fashion scene in Saudi Arabia. She admitted those are still the most trendy, considering the hype they created. Having sold her oriental collection for Ramadan in Dubai, Al Shaikh sees the brand with a concept that emphasizes on simplistic purpose. “People always want to know what's next. Planning to achieve it takes a lot of time and effort to prove my vision and goal behind Nosh.” Her list of must-haves include “Moschino McDonald's, Celine SS14 shoes, Givenchy T-shirts and bags and leather is still hot this season.” Talking about talented Saudi designers, she mentioned Haida Fahad, Highness by Haifa lbraheem, Dolls and Skulls, Mishi & Micci. “In the region, I am in love with all things Mochi she has a really cool concept, and Sugar Vintage.” ALEXANDER WANG The best comes to Coachella. During the California based music festival, H&M announced their collaboration with Alexander Wang. The new collection will feature apparel and accessories for both men and women as it plans to “propose a new take” that “goes beyond fashion”. The announcement generated a lot of publicity and appreciation on blogs and social media platforms. The full collection will be available in 250 H&M stores worldwide, and online starting from 6 November 2014. Alexander Wang said, “I am honored to be a part of H&M's designer collaborations. The work with their team is an exciting, fun process. They are very open to push boundaries and to set a platform for creativity. This will be a great way for a wider audience to experience elements of the Alexander Wang brand and lifestyle.”
