This week, as some of the world’s top couturiers gather for one of fashion’s most exclusive events, the Paris Haute Couture Week, one Dubai designer is hoping to ride the wave of positivity sweeping the French capital. Rami Al Ali, who took his latest collection to a selective audience on the sidelines of the main shows yesterday, says he’s hoping for a positive debut in this the original home of haute couture.
"It’s kind of a natural growth for the brand. After Dubai and Rome, we’re here in Paris, the mother of haute couture," said Al Ali before his show, which he explained was designed more like a presentation.
“
I wanted to bring out the feminine, sexual and indulged lifestyle that a woman [in an orientalist painting] is surrounded with
Dubai designer Rami Al Ali
"We wanted it to be more of an introduction," he added. "We wanted to introduce the label key people and see where we go from here."
Al Ali, who started his label 12 years ago in Dubai, couldn’t have picked a better time. Despite the threat of a weakening French economy against the backdrop of a waning European market, this year’s haute couture shows come off the back of booming business for top brands. Versace, for instance, marked a triumphant return on Monday after bowing out of couture eight years ago. Dior, which continued to be dogged by who it is going to crown as its creative head, won applause for its down-to-earth collection masterminded by stand-in designer Bill Gayten. Last year, Giorgio Armani reported a 50 per cent rise in couture sales while Valentino quoted an 80 per cent rise.
Article continues below