When Dara Hamarneh launched her eponymous handbag label back in 2019, her aim was to create sustainable collections that stand the test of time. Fast forward four years and the Jordanian designer has done just that with one-of-a-kind bags that marry exceptional attention to detail with innovative designs inspired by her life in the Middle East. “My dad’s job had us moving around a lot between the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and eventually going back home to Jordan, and fashion was always a big part of my life,” Dara tells MOJEH. “What got the brand going was the concept of elevated basics and closet staples. I really wanted to create something versatile that could be used over and over again.”
At the core of Dara Hamarneh is sustainability. “We continuously research styles, shapes and colours that will stand the test of time without being trend led, and within the development phase we try to realise our new designs with 3D-rendering techniques and develop new patterns with dead stock leather from previous collections,” she adds. Add to that materials that are 100 per cent traceable plus leather that is 90 per cent bio-based and a by-product of the food industry and these bags can easily be worn without a guilty conscience.
So what can we expect for this season? Dara released a new style, the Aalto, in four colour ways and on a made-to-order basis. “We’ve dabbled with this in the past, but going forward we do want to be more adamant in the way fashion is currently being consumed,” she explains. “We want people to feel excited again, going more for delayed gratification than that instant feeling of pleasure that fades all too quickly.” Shop now
