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Paparazzi, supermodels in supernatural dresses, among the public - members of the most august families ... Milan or New York? No! Muscat Fashion Week in the Sultanate of Oman.

If Oman didn’t taste the decades of wise rule of Sultan Qaboos, who came to the throne in 1970, today in this country the size of Italy there would be no international regattas, Tour of Oman cycling and the annual Muscat Festival with fireworks and aqua shows. And sunglasses and bicycles would still be considered dissident things here.
Today, Oman welcomes guests. The Sultan began to modernize his country later than neighboring Dubai and Abu Dhabi, so he was able to cleverly avoid their "drifts." A calmer than in the UAE, a lifestyle devoid of the religious rigors of Saudi Arabia is the main component of the country's attractiveness. Part of the campaign to transform Oman into an international cultural and tourist center was the Muscat Festival and its accompanying Muscat fashion week. As the representative of Muscat City Hall and the organizer of the show said at the opening, "We are open to the world and will be happy if our fashion week becomes international."
This year, along with participants from the Middle East and North Africa, their creations showed Omani designers - sisters Afaf and Aida al-Farsi, Lubna and Nadiya al-Zakwani, Naval al-Khuti, Amal al-Raisi - No male designer in the sultanate yet. Maybe because the wealthy Omani woman is not heavily burdened with farming? And it all starts with sheathing relatives, friends, then friends of friends.But even when a hobby grows into a business, free women of the East do not conduct it in a Western way - they sell outfits sewn in one copy for a thousand dollars, and not in pompous boutiques ten times more expensive, which is why these handmade things are definitely worth it.

The main reason to dress in the East is weddings, which are becoming more magnificent and last several days. Men and women "walk" separately, so nothing distracts the Omanoks from glamorous wars. After all, only having thrown off the black cloak - abaya, the woman appears dressed up lavishly and tastefully, but only her husband, friends and relatives are befitting to see her like that.

As explained Nawal al-Khuti, in the small Omani market, she can’t create two identical outfits, because sooner or later their owners will face up at their next wedding. But now Naval has the opportunity to sew a lot of the same clothes: she won the competition for the development of the Oman Air uniform. Its design is distinguished by modern lines and fabrics as applied to the Omani caftan style. Recently, Naval expanded its assortment of jewelry and opened a store in a shopping center at the new Royal Opera.
Afaf and Aida al-Farsi, create under the brand name Dibaj, shy away from brilliance, work a lot with the contrast of black and white, which is honored by buyers from Dubai. And the models of Lubna and Nadia al-Zakwani under the Endemage brand (translated as “the fusion of two principles”, which is suitable for describing the collection's superelegant style, which can be characterized as “East at a meeting with the West”) is a discovery for fusion connoisseurs.
Yes, judging by the impressions onMuscat fashion week, in a young and inexperienced Omani fashion there is energy and talent. And since brocade or silk dresses on the floor, moderately embroidered and trimmed with velvet, will always be successful at celebrations in different parts of the world, the designers of the Sultanate have a great future.

The article was published on the materials of the magazine "Good advice" 10/2013
Text: Alexey Dmitriev. Photo: PR
Material prepared by Julia Dekanova

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