Simply Abu Dhabi Magazine XXI

4 7 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I The designs were first introduced on Style.com’s Arabia site – and within days, it was all the fashion world was talking about. From established publications such as Vogue, Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, Allure, Time Magazine and New York Magazine, to the internet’s most visited sites like BuzzFeed and Reddit, to countless comments, likes and shares on social media – news of D&G’s abaya collection went viral almost instantly. There’s no doubting that the range is extraordinarily beautiful. Yet, almost more importantly, it strives to strike a delicate balance betweenmodest and respectful on the one hand, and fresh, modern and fashion-forward on the other. No easy task, certainly: in embarking on a collection of traditional clothing with complex implications, Dolce & Gabbana undertook a significant challenge: providing their devoted clients with upscale fashion options, whilst remaining mindful of the need to respect the religious and cultural foundations of themarket they wish to serve. For a brand known for their evocative and daring designs, this leap to recognise the requirements of its Muslim clientele was a bold one. Certainly, there have been a handful of critics who have viewed this collection with a cynical eye, but few could dispute that a major Western luxury fashion house catering to a Middle Eastern market is an important development. The History of the Abaya To provide some context for the significance of the collection, it’s helpful to remember that the abaya is no ordinary fashion item that goes in and out of style. Its long history may be somewhat vague, but it is one that is rich in legend and touched by poetry. Most importantly, the abaya is an item with immense religious and cultural significance. Some historians believe that the use of the abaya, from the Arabic word for cloak, dates back more than 4,000 years and thus predates even Islam itself. These scholars explain that the original form of the clothing, essentially a large,