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Abeer Al Otaiba on SemSem's Egyptian-Inspired Collection

Feb 05, 2020 | 6 min read

Abeer Al Otaiba discusses her modern take on ancient Egypt’s iconic allure

SemSem’s creative director and founder, Abeer Al Otaiba, discusses her modern take on ancient Egypt’s iconic allure, the rise of Arab designers and what’s next for the brand… 

How did your Egyptian heritage inspire your latest collection?

How did you channel this influence into your designs?

How does your background in structural engineering influence your designs?

Do you design with a particular muse or woman in mind?

What do you love about getting dressed up?

Are women are dressing with a new set of parameters?

How is the Middle East developing in terms of fashion?

Are Arab designers being recognised now?

Do you feel the fashion industry is changing for the better?

How are you incorporating inclusivity into the brand? 

How do you improve ethical standards? 

Each season, we partner with a non-profit organisation dedicated to improving gender equality, literacy, health, legal awareness and education for women. Labour exploitation and unpleasant working conditions are still rampant practices in the industry and we want to be at the forefront of instigating change to how collections are made.

What’s next for you in 2020?

THE POP-UP

From plush velvet pantsuits to sequin adorned tops and fanciful feather blazers, discover an array of sleel date night ready looks at SemSem’s pop-up at Galeries Lafayette in The Dubai Mall. Available until the end of February; Galerieslafayettedubai.com