A Triumphant Dialogue: Emirates Design Meets Italian Mastery

The Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation presents a magnificent celebration of creative excellence through the Dolce&Gabbana × ADMAF Design Award 2025, a distinguished platform that illuminates the remarkable talents flourishing amongst the UAE’s emerging fashion designers. The competition has culminated in a memorable recognition of innovation, craftsmanship and artistic vision, honouring those designers whose work demonstrates an extraordinary commitment to their craft.

Maitha Alansaari emerges as this year’s triumphant designer, her winning creation titled A Journey Woven in Fragments representing a profound meditation on identity and cultural expression. The design engages in a sophisticated dialogue between the rich ornamentation traditions of Emirati heritage and the refined sensibilities of Italian artistry, demonstrating how contemporary fashion can serve as a conduit for celebrating one’s cultural roots whilst embracing international aesthetic influences. Through careful exploration of ornamentation as an expression of identity, Alansaari’s work transcends the conventional boundaries of fashion design, elevating it to a form of cultural discourse.

The exhibition of these remarkable creations affords visitors an intimate encounter with the creative process and vision of the award’s finalists. The winning design, presented alongside the distinguished finalist pieces, graces the premises of the Dolce&Gabbana boutique at The Galleria Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi, commencing from 14 October 2026. This prestigious venue provides the perfect setting for appreciating the nuanced craftsmanship and innovative thinking that characterise these exceptional creations, inviting us to witness how emerging Emirati designers are shaping contemporary fashion through their distinctive voices and cultural perspectives.