SemSem Launches An Exclusive Dubai Collection
Abeer Al Otaiba chats with Bazaar about what inspired the collection
Abeer Al Otaiba, a Bazaar Best Dressed alumna, has brought her label SemSem to Dubai for five days to celebrate the launch of an exclusive capsule collection for the region. Drawing on pieces from her S/S17 collection, and her brand’s aesthetic idenity, Abeer has created a dedicated capsule for the women of the region which she is showcasing to the region’s fash pack with dedicated events stretching from Thursday (24th) to Monday (28th).
On why she created the capsule for Dubai, Abeer exclusively told Bazaar, “SemSem as a brand represents the Eastern and Western cultures I grew up in, but this capsule collection in particular is very close to my heart and deeply personal as it is directly inspired by my Arabic heritage and my engineering background. I designed this capsule collection – inspired by Islamic Art – and decided to show it exclusively in Dubai, where I used to live for years before I moved to Washington, DC.”
Abeer describes Dubai as “a cultural melting pot, maybe the most diverse place on earth” and confesses, “I have been always fascinated by this trendy, fast-paced cosmopolitan city. Locals and tourists alike tend to dress up and the women have an amazing sense of style.”
Islamic art was the inspiration for the collection and it’s something that Abeer has always been drawn to, she tells us. “With this collection, I felt eager to show people all over the world the beauty and exquisite intricacy of Islamic Art – the Arabesque floral elements, the symmetry and repetition of geometric designs, and the seemingly endless swirls of Arabic calligraphy.”
Washington D.C. is now home for Abeer, having moved there with husband Yousef Al Otaiba, the United Arab Emirates Ambassador to the United States of America. The pair met in Dubai, and Abeer has nothing but praise for the region. “I’m proud to call The Emirates, where the sea and the desert come together, my second home.”
“Perhaps the greatest source of inspiration for me is the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. The mosque itself is a Masterpiece of Islamic Art, and is equally impressive as it is serene.”
Click through the gallery above to see pieces from the collection and you can shop the collection at the brand’s exclusive trunk show tomorrow at La Serre from 2.30-5.30pm.