September 8, 2021 |
Here at 10, we love a good dose of female empowerment and Arwa Al Banawi is bringing us that and so much more. Arwa is the Saudi-Arabian womenswear designer making contemporary streetwear for “the suitable woman”, by bridging the gap between luxury fashion and streetwear. Wishing to communicate the power of the modern woman and spread Middle Eastern culture through fabulous fashion, her namesake label is growing at rapid speeds, gaining recognition for its statement tees covered in Arabic writing and eye-catching tailored suiting. Al Banawi has worked on a slew of exciting collaborations in the past including names like Pepsi Co. and Levi’s denim, and most recently she put her own Middle Eastern spin on the infamous Adidas Originals Forum Lo 84.
Now, Arwa Al Banawi continues her journey with a new capsule collection dubbed “TakeOff Baby”. The collection is inspired by the vibrant colours of the Mediterranean and presents a limited line of modern yet effortlessly elegant eveningwear that works to transition you from day to night in pure Al-Banawi style. Feminine, chic and everything in-between, her contemporary “east meets west” perspective is bringing the Saudi-Arabian fashion scene to the forefront.
In the midst of all the madness, we caught up with the designer to talk about her creative journey thus far.
In brief, explain what your brand is about
“My brand is about storytelling mostly, communicating Arab culture through the brand and empowering women through fashion.”
Tell us who Arwa Al Banawi is in 10 words
“Dreamer, passionate, bold, authentic, cultured, confident and a free-spirit.”
Where did your catchphrase, “The Suitable Woman”, come from?
“I was inspired by women. Before becoming a designer I was working in banking and I was looking at most of the women in pantsuits. I noticed how essential the traditional pantsuit is in the workplace and I thought it needed more boldness and more life. That’s when I thought of the tagline ‘The Suitable Woman’, to create a brand that is inspired by this woman and is smart, elegant, bold yet feminine and most importantly, she’s on the go and I want to celebrate her in my brand.”
How is your Saudi Arabian heritage reflected in your designs?
“I get inspired a lot by my Saudi roots and its rich heritage. It’s seen in many of my designs from embroidery technique to calligraphy and also in the traditional Saudi silhouettes that I choose to modernize so that they can be worn by anyone, not just Saudis, so that it becomes a signature piece in your wardrobe, for example, thobes, bishts and many other traditional garments.”
What has been your greatest achievement as a designer?
“My latest Adidas originals collaboration designing the Forum Lo 84 sneaker that has launched and been sold globally. This has been one of the most amazing experiences in my life and my career up to date.”
How would you describe the Middle Eastern fashion scene?
“It has soul and it’s very inspiring.”
Your latest capsule collection “TakeOff Baby” was just released. Where did the name come from?
“It’s inspired by travel. The woman of this collection is looking for inspiration and she’s traveling the world to find it and I believe visiting new places and meeting new people is always inspiring. It’s inspired by hopping from island to city and includes effortless eveningwear that is comfortable yet sexy and can be worn anytime from day to night. The collection also includes key beachwear pieces, from hoodies to wrap skirts to wear over swimwear that can also be worn at night. I believe summer is all about spontaneous randomness and that’s the beauty of it, you never know what can happen in life. Beautiful surprises in nature’s beauty can be found in the sunrises and sunsets around the Mediterranean and it’s really about having all you need in your suitcase or carry on. That’s the inspiration behind the name ‘TakeOff Baby’, that you can pack all these key pieces and just head to the airport.”
What can we expect next from Arwa Al Banawi?
“I am working on a few new projects. One of them is with a rising artist under the pen name Pillower.”
TakeOff Baby is available to purchase exclusively at Homegrown In Jeddah, KSA.
