Behind the names

During the Renaissance period,  the city of Venice was a symbolism of an extremely sophisticated culture, and Venetians were portrayed as sensuous decadent beings in English Literature, due to the lavish lifestyle they lived. These are, of course not attributes associated with Venice today, and now it is perceived as a more Romanic destination. Bearing in mind this was my first holiday, me and my friends took full advantage, hopping into Gondolas, strolling down alleyways, eating authentic gelato while window shopping for gifts and souvenirs.

Rialto bridge, or in Italian, “Ponte di Rialto”, is one of four bridges in Venice that crosses the grand canal, also being the oldest of the four. We visited this site in the evening and there was something about the way it lit up in the night darkness that stays in my memory. In modern day, the bridge is considered one of the marvels of architecture and engineering from the renaissance period. It is a key spot for photographers and tourists, with millions crossing it every year. My first design, is thus, named after this iconic bridge. In the making of this design, I wanted to make sure that I depicted the renaissance gown-like style, which is why I opted for a velvet-like, thick Satin Silk fabric. Though gowns during this era would change from year to year, a common feature of their gowns was a tight-fitted bodice and fuller skirt. Using this as inspiration, I opted for an attached belt which would enhance the flow of the bottom of the dress, just like the gowns in that era. I opted for a cuffed balloon sleeved design, another key feature of renaissance gowns. Although a typical gown would employ a French cut neckline, going back to my focus on modest wear, I wanted to make sure it was easy to wear for hijab wearers like myself.

There was something about Granada that instantly reminded me of Marrakech, in particular the tourist markets (souks) that were just outside our Air bnb. The city has a proximity to historical value and nature which instantly appealed to me, compared to the conventional Spanish tourist attractions Madrid/Barcelona. Among all the days spent in the city, the final happened to be my favourite, where I got the honours of visiting the grand, sacred and beautiful Alhambra Palace, the inspiration behind my second dress design.

Linguistically, the name Alhambra is of Arabic origin, meaning “red castle/ vermilion” (Qa’lat al-hambra) reflecting the dusty red stone used to build the thick walls and towers that surround the palace. This was why I set on searching for fabric that reflected the red/brick tones. Created originally for military purposes, the Alhambra became a royal residence and court in the 13th century after the establishment of the Nasrid Kingdom by King Muhammed ibn Yusuf Ben Nasr (also known as Ibn al-Ahmar). It embodies the Islamic golden age and is a remnant of the Nasrid dynasty. The palace is comprised of different sections including The Nasrid Palaces, Comares Palace and General Life Palace. Almost every section was filled with intricate Arabic geometry, hence I was on the hunt for a geometric styled print when designing. The Comares Palace, particularly had a collection of majestic rooms where the ceilings had been intricately designed to represent the seven Islamic heavens where the soul ascends after death. The General Life palace, (my favourite bit) consisted of a large gardens where every corner held originality with its nature, greenery and water fountains. Arabic writers have previously likened Alhambra to a ‘crown’/’diadem’ reflecting the ‘royal’ inspiration I was seeking when designing this dress.

Often referred to as the Pearl of Lake Como, the town Bellagio inspired my third design. Like many other towns in Lake Como, the streets are incredibly picturesque. It is home to an old town centre, and is essentially the real shopper’s paradise, home to designer boutiques, local arts and crafts and souvenirs shops. Como town is actually the best place to buy silk in Europe (maybe in the world), due to its quality and elegance. A key reason why Lake Como flourished in popularity, aside from its stunning landscapes, amazing gardens and medieval villages, was due to the production of silk in 15th century which attracted many artists and designers to the area. Of course, it made sense for me to opt for satin silk fabric when designing this dress. I wanted to combine elements of the medieval villages too so I went for a classic medieval bell sleeve, giving an overall elegancy reflected from the town itself.

It was during a family to trip to the Atlas mountains (during our stay in Marrakech) where I got inspiration for my final design. On our way to the mountains we stopped at the Ourika valley and Berber Villages. We were taken into the traditional homes of the village residents where they welcomed us with their conventional mint tea, bread and oil. The Berbers are people ethnically indigenous to areas in North Africa (west valley of the nile) and call themselves the “free people” Their rural settlements offer an interesting insight into their tradition and history. Within the souks of Marrakech, there are countless examples of Berber craftsman including their stunning traditional jewelry to the intricately hand made Berber rugs. This is the only design that I have recreated based on what I was wearing on the day I visited the Berber villages and I wanted to make sure that I kept the design as a souvenir for the Berber culture. Though I didn’t get direct inspiration from Berber village clothing (most famous being Djellaba), the main aspects I wanted to focus on were the vibrant colours and looseness of clothing. This design was recreated twice with two different fabrics/colours (for my own wardrobe) and may be my own personal favourite for holiday wear. The design and cut makes it easy to breathe in during hot whether and the added flow gave it the elegance for holiday wear.