Simply Abu Dhabi Magazine XXI

4 2 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I A design team long known for bold statements, Dolce & Gabbana may have been the last label you’d imagine to present a line of modest clothing. But as ever with the esteemed Italian duo, always expect the unexpected. For spring/summer 2016, Dolce & Gabbana have introduced a stunning range of abayas and hijabs, a move that has created tremendous excitement amongst their target customers, Middle Eastern Muslim women who are also devotees of luxurious, high- end clothing. Whilst a few other luxury brands have designed for this market, they’ve mainly done so with one-off capsule collections released for Ramadan or Eid. And certainly it’s becoming more common to find high-street retailers who are expanding their ranges to include modest clothing and traditional dress. But for theMuslimwoman who wishes to follow both tradition and high-end luxury fashion, her options have been limited – until now. The Collection With their new abaya designs, Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana have said they wished to create “an enchanting visual story about the grace and beauty of the marvellous women of Arabia”. And what a simply beautiful story it is. The Abaya Collection features flowing ankle-length dresses in traditional black, as well as subtle neutrals reminiscent of the Arabian sands. Some of the abayas are embellished with motifs from the main Dolce & Gabbana spring/summer 2016 line, such as daisies, lemons, polka dots and red roses. The luxurious fabrics used in the collection include delicate georgette and charmeuse; and as the duo are well known for celebrating the culture and history of their native Italy, it should come as no surprise that such D&G signature flourishes as Sicilian lace are to be found throughout the designs. Each abaya is sold with a coordinating hijab to complete the look.