Spot a boxy suit in a pop-colour palette and Arwa Al Banawi instantly comes to mind. The Saudi Arabian designer, who spends her time between Jeddah and Dubai, has established an identity of streetwear inspired tailoring and androgynous silhouettes in a spectrum influenced by psychedelic art. “I was brought up in an artistic home, my mother is a chef and also a merge of Audrey Hepburn and a cool bohemian artist, and my father has a dapper style,” Arwa Al Banawi tells MOJEH.
“My memories of growing up include road trips through Europe, trying different cuisines and visiting museums and galleries.” Arwa Al Banawi translates her frequent travels, culinary adventures and her mother’s penchant for chic dressing into functional fabrics with flair — think fun hues, exaggerated shoulders and statement tees that read “let’s go on a trip together” — designing clothes for a contemporary woman on the go.
But as times change, and fashion enters a new normal, Arwa Al Banawi, like many other brands in the region, has been forced to adapt in order to remain authentic and true to the woman that wears the label. Deciding to leave the fashion calendar behind, the Saudi designer delves into what’s next for the brand, talks cooking in lockdown and tells MOJEH why fashion needs to continue to share its story.
I was working on a new collaboration that will resume inshallah soon and I was planning to go to Mykonos. It's my favourite place and I tend to visit regularly in the summer.
We had a push back in production so we couldn’t continue the Ramadan capsule as planned. For to keep staff safe, we stopped production in our atelier for over a month.
After a lot of reflection and thought into our future as a fashion house, and for our customer loyalty, we have decided to not follow the fashion calendar this year and maybe even after this year.
I think it’s affecting the industry as whole not just the region, but I believe a change is needed and as creatives we should adapt.
Brand are already having to modify their practice and develop. Showrooms and shows are mostly cancelled for the year, so the industry has to change with the times we're currently facing.
Support to emerging designers is always needed — in the current crisis and beyond. There will always be new wave of artists and creatives and support from the industry is always needed, in my opinion, to keep the community alive and growing.
I think every brand should do what they feel is right for them, go where the wave is taking them.
I’d say be patient and dive into creating dreams and continue to share your story.
I think supporting their local business is important, local department stores, local designers — so they can grow and adapt during these times of uncertainty.
Working. Work hasn’t stopped for me, I’m working daily on my sketches, meetings on zoom planning out the new year and end of season, looking into hiring young creatives with a fresh mind to join the team. I’ve also been cooking almost daily. I love cooking, I love to bake as well and I’m watching Seinfeld it’s the funniest show ever. I have also enjoyed spending time with my my parents, I haven’t had spent this much time with them in a very long time so it’s nice to reconnect.
