A First Look At The Kuwait Team’s Glittering Thobes For the Paris 2024 Olympics Opening Ceremony
Muhra channels traditional savoir faire and patriotic poetry for the Kuwait team’s opening ceremony ensembles
Muhra, a Kuwaiti brand specializing in utterly exquisite caftans, has unveiled the custom creations to be worn by team Kuwait at the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics this evening. Founded by Kuwaiti designer Farah Al Babtain, Muhra is an official sponsor to the Kuwait Olympic Committee this year, and will be exclusively sponsoring the female national team’s ensembles for the sporting extravaganza.
Inspired by her homeland, Farah’s royal blue thobes display a gleaming landscape embellished in glittering gold beads, making for a striking colour combination that will stand out in the sea of athletes.
The thobe design was inspired by the Kuwaiti national poem Memoirs of a Sailor by Dr Mohammad Al-Fayez, and verses from the poem are carefully embroidered with golden threads and accented with glittering gems. The poem is a symbol of the perseverance and spirit of the people of Kuwait, and is delicately embroidered in Arabic.
The royal blue colour of the thobe was chosen to symbolize the “serene sway of Kuwait’s seas” and the official colour of the team. The ensemble also features an opulent belt, crafted in the colours of the national flag, and showcasing traditional Sadu weaving techniques, further conveying the message of hope, heritage and resilience.
When summing up the inspiration behind her brand, Farah is deeply influenced by her Arabic roots. “I have a never ending thirst and curiosity to discover the hidden treasures and infinite beauty of our land that are tucked away and weaved within our culture,” she explains. “I have a tremendous urge to expose the mesmerizing beauty of the Arabian woman through my designs that reflect the different facets of her magical allure and presence from poetry, language, music or our oud filled breeze; the doors of inspiration are constantly knocked.”
The female members of the Kuwait team include Soaad Alfaqaan (pictured left), Lara Dashti (pictured right), Amal Alroumi and Ameena Shah. Soaad is a first-time Olympian who will become the first woman to represent Kuwait in the rowing discipline at the Olympic Games, while Laura is an accomplished swimmer who competed in Tokyo’s games in 2021 and was the first woman to carry Kuwait’s flag. Soaad and Lara will be two of the many Arab women cheered on by Bazaar Arabia, undoubtedly buoyed by the opening ceremony and a chance to wear couture creations that embody their patriotic endeavours.
Lead image courtesy of Muhra