Meet The Regional Designers That Made Their Mark At Modest Fashion Week

The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort in Abu Dhabi played host to Modest Fashion Week 2025, presenting elegant collections from modesty focused maisons in the MENA region

Saadiyat Island was bathed in golden light as the Abu Dhabi Modest Fashion Week made its grand return for 2025, welcoming the fashion world into a space where style, identity, and culture seamlessly converged. Held in the resplendent Regalia Ballroom at The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort—a venue that mirrors the island’s allure with its high ceilings, opulent interiors, and glimmering chandeliers—Modest Fashion Week presents a clutch of contemporary regional designers reimagining modest dressing with flair and panache.

Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, served as a symbolic home for this season’s shows. With iconic landmarks such as the Louvre Abu Dhabi and the upcoming Guggenheim Abu Dhabi anchoring its landscape, Saadiyat continues to champion diverse identities and artistic innovation, making it a meaningful hub for voices shaping modest fashion in the GCC.

From couture ateliers in the UAE, to heritage-rooted houses in Palestine and Iran, this season MENA-based designers elevated the fashion narrative with collections that were not only stylish, but also conceptually rich.

Here is our edit of the standout regional brands that brought both tradition and innovation to the runway.

Discover The Designers Showing At Modest Fashion Week 2025

Bespoke Atelier

Opening the season was Bespoke Atelier, the UAE-born fashion house led by Mariyam AlQubaisi, who set the tone with a mesmerising collection rooted in both craftsmanship and deep emotion—the star piece: a regal purple pleated chiffon gown that glided down the runway with ethereal grace. “I wanted to show that nothing can stop a woman from being fashionable and modest simultaneously,” AlQubaisi shared. “Modesty isn’t one look—it’s a powerful, versatile expression of style.”

Drawing inspiration from nature, Bespoke Atelier’s showcase carried subtle celestial motifs and delicate embroidery—florals that seemed to bloom mid-motion, and silhouettes that framed strength in softness. “I’m incredibly proud that my brand can present modesty most elegantly,” AlQubaisi said. “I want every woman to feel confident, seen, and celebrated in our designs.”

Afrik Abaya

Afrik Abaya from Nigeria brought powerful cultural narratives to life through rich African textiles reimagined in flowing abaya forms in her runway show. Bold colours and intricate patterns created a rhythmic visual language—a celebration of heritage and reinvention.

Soleil

Local favourite Soleil illuminated the stage with their signature blend of Khaleeji heritage and modern elegance. Luxe fabrics shimmered under soft spotlights, with metallic threads and intricate embellishments capturing the mystique of Gulf femininity. The collection exuded sophistication—each look a tribute to confident, contemporary Arab women.

Miha

Founded in 2016 in Turkey, Miha presented a collection rooted in comfort, elegance, and contemporary craftsmanship. With its roots in Istanbul and its heart in everyday sophistication, Miha offered a quiet but deeply resonant collection of fluid layering, soft tailoring, and muted palettes. Each piece carried the brand’s core philosophy: that modest fashion should be a lived experience of comfort and confidence.

Cabochon

Founded by Fidda AlMarzouqi, Cabochon exemplified couture excellence from the Emirates. The brand’s showcase merged opulent craftsmanship with emotional storytelling—each gown, each lace-trimmed sleeve a whisper of femininity rediscovered. With a strong design identity grounded in meticulous detail and seasonal narrative, Cabochon is redefining what Emirati luxury looks like on the global stage.

Imannoor

Turkish atelier Imannoor debuted a much-anticipated collaboration with Somali-Norwegian icon Rawdah, inspired by Somalia’s hibiscus flower and African artistry. With motifs derived from Islamic art and nature, the collection merged traditional roots with modern sophistication. “We believe modest fashion is a lifestyle,” the brand stated. “It’s a reflection of values, identity, and beauty through faith.” Their silhouettes offered versatile, everyday elegance grounded in spiritual and cultural inspiration.

Humble Power

More than a brand, Humble Power from the UAE is a statement of movement and ambition. Their collection catered to the modern, modest athlete—a woman who seeks performance wear that does not compromise her values. The designs featured sleek cuts, breathable fabrics, and empowering silhouettes that blurred the line between sport and lifestyle, setting a precedent for inclusive activewear.

As the evening came to a close, the Regalia Ballroom sparkled with more than just lights—it held stories. Stories of women expressing who they are without compromise, of designers crafting not just garments but meaning. At the heart of it all, Saadiyat Island—with its ivory beaches, cultural soul, and sense of sanctuary—was the perfect stage for modest fashion’s evolving narrative. Abu Dhabi’s Modest Fashion Week was not just a showcase but a statement: that modesty, far from limiting, is limitless in its beauty.

Images supplied