Cupid, Valentine just got sexier! This Valentine’s Day, fabulous couture designer and Dubai’s very own Aiisha Ramadan will launch her limited edition casual line of clothing exclusively for Galeries Lafayette. The collection seeks inspiration from all that we love about love itself!
After such a great success that the Love Affair collection has achieved at the Galeries Lafayette, we come back again, now with a Valentine Special Collection for 2 weeks from the 1st Feb till the 14th Feb.
Our new line is designed for the confidant but romantic woman who isn’t afraid to express her emotions on her apparel. This is where we used Black, White and Red to express a confident women, but with hearts CRYSTALLIZED™ – Swarovski Elementsto unveil the more romantic side of every woman.
Within the collection you’ll find a range of lingerie/ swimsuits, Ornamented Necklaces, T-Shirts, Tops, Jersey Dresses, Jumpers, Cocktail and Evening Dress to maintain the Aiisha signature style. Prices range from 160 – 2900 Dhs!
The collection is both limited and affordable, a rare combination. Check it out and have a Happy Valentine’s
This by far is the longest post that this site has so far, and its there to thank every individual who has provided us with support and has been a part of this great success. So I list them at no particular order.
A Love Affair
Production
Stefan Cebula, an amazing human being. You look at him and you realize that everything will be alright. Building the stage on ice, hanging himself from the rooftop, taking care of every (production) aspect was never an easy job. Stef has produced Valentino shows and The World Summit in Johannesburg among many others. He is the best!
Stefan Cebula
Among many others, Vartan Kelechian was a true positive vibe for me. Everytime I felt the world crashing around me, he assured me it will all be fine and it was!
Jihad Mawed is the man behind my logo. I paid 5 companies for a proper logo and I ended up using none. Instead I used the one from my childhood friend. He’s a true artist and a very dear brother. Along with my husband, Jihad also designed the Love Affair backdrop, which I think was sensational
A Love Affair Backdrop
Lights
Liz Berry, What can you say about a (Super Lady) who has produced the lights for London Fashion Week and Robbie Williams concerts? She’s a Super Lady!!
Models
Carole B, Hana Nitsche, Alexandra, Zeljka, Cole, Ying, Maja and Sophia from Bareface, Kate and Nicole from LMM, Dima, Anastasia, Katryna, Katsyarina, Rene and Anna. Everybody spoke of their beauty and grace. They really made me proud and were gorgeous! Unlike other models, they were all lovely, patient and simply professional.
A powerful opera singer who’s full of passion and has previously opened at Twickenham for 80,000 people. He was sensational!
Andrew Amdur (Tenor)
Natasha Alexandra Kemball
A graceful figure skater, who started the evening off with twirls and elegant moves, using the soaring voice of Opera Singer – Andrew Amdur for inspiration. It was so passionate and truly brought me tears.
Natasha Alexandra Kemball
Photographers
All the photographers stood side by side to document every breath we took, every move the models took and every shine of Victoria Casal pieces. Joseph Bassil was their leader and his photos speak for themselves.
All 4 Media. These guys got me speechless everytime I saw them around me either filming or solving a problem or simply reassuring us that everything is gonna be alright. They were true soldiers. The filming was conducted in HD and transfered on the massive 20meter x 10meter screen at Dubai Mall. Thank you, Roland, Raymond and all the incredible staff.
Music
Thanks to my incredible husband, we truly brought Paris to Dubai for the night. The mix was sensational.. I listen to it almost everyday and never get enough of it – Because we truly worked on it from our hearts. Please visit the links to taste the music.
What an pleasure to have met this legend. With his beautiful fuchsia shoes, both Victoria and myself were honored and so glad to have met Manolo. The 3 of us shared 2 photoshoots (exclusive for Harper’s Bazaar and Zahrat Al Khaleej magazines). It’s great as it makes the lady wearing Manolo’s feel like a princess, but also meeting the lovely legend behind it, is thrilling. Truly, to have Victoria and Manolo on my sides was a dream I never thought would come true!
Manolo Blahnik, Victoria Casal and Aiisha
Our stylist Noni, a passionate lady so eager to become a professional stylist, I tell her thank you for your dedication and your precision. I couldn’t have done it without you.
The models looked like they went out of the 60’s Vogue (I quote from the Khaleej Times). Steve from Pace e Luce Al Manzel – Burj Dubai Downtown – made me and Victoria look like 60’s divas for our clip. We simply looked sexy. Put the same look on the naturally perfect models and tell me what you think! The entire team of Pace e Luce blew us away by their work.. Thank you guys! If you know great hair professionals, Pace e Luce will always be on the top of your list!
When it comes to Max Factor (part of Procter & Gamble), I can’t help but think: Family. P&G and their PR company MS&L have supported me from my early beginnings and we remain loyal to each other. Not only are they professionals, but also friendly and easy going. When it comes to mastering Max Factor, Samira Olfat is my favorite makeup artist. She has worked with the best companies and designers from Galliano to Christian Lacroix to Aiisha and Victoria Casal! Max Factor had their iconic Lipfinity in its 6 shades worn to stay on the lips. I don’t know of any woman who has tried them and not felt grateful for this invention..
As you know, I’m the spokesperson for the HP Fashion Products, including the Vivienne Tam netbook. To continue what we have started, HP supported us with their latest pink edition, which simply happens to be divine!!
Another supporter from Procter & Gamble. Camay, the luxurious soap brand, has 5 exquisite variants for every woman: Dejour, Crème Delice, Passion, Parfum, and Pink. I have designed 5 dresses that reflect each of the Camay 5 scents. Each of them appeals to a mood / character that every woman may embrace. In each character, I see myself. We’ll cover that soon in a different post.
Did you know that Sweet Stuff made a special Aiisha and Love Affair Cup Cake editions for the fashion show? Not only that, but these cup cakes are being sold in their store on Jumeirah for a month after the show. I’m really flattered!
Sweet Stuff / Aiisha Cupcakes
Graziella Kamel
Its a true honor to have had Graziella as our MC. Graziella and I have worked on Dubai TV for a fashion styling program. I was always fond of Graziella’s ocean of talent. She was a sense of fashion that this region needs to nourish from. She’s multi-lingual and its simply sexy.. And she’s smart. Did I forget to mention how beautiful she really is? Hard luck for the men out there, she’s taken by a wonderful Ralph!
Danielle Wilson. For very long months, Danielle has worked so hard day and night and has always had faith in me. For that and much much more, I’m grateful. I couldn’t have done it without you..
Danielle Wilson with Aiisha and the Sweet Stuff at the event
My partner and my lover! Every member of Victoria Casal Paris to the Dubai branch made all the difference with their support. Thank you for making this Love Affair happen. I lived my dream with you..
Victoria Casal and Aiisha on the catwalk
Press
Every writer, reporter, journalist, blogger be it positive or negative (and it was truly positive), THANK YOU!
Press at the Love Affair
Our friends, family and the working team behind “Aiisha”.. thank you for your continuous support. I love you!
A day to remember in my calendar of events. We’ve been busy planning for this date for over 5 months (if not more), for few days prior to that date we hardly slept, we worked over night, but the more challenge we faced, the more we developed collective determination until we reached the deadline and from there it was smooth sailing.
Of course I’m talking about my collaboration with Victoria Casal.
A Love Affair Invite
A Love Affair is a collaboration 1 year in the making, kept under wraps until it was unveiled in a glamorous, unique, one of a kind show that was deemed the fashion show of the year and the golden ticket of the fashion events in Dubai.
The Design Team on the Catwalk
My coverage for this event will extend to few blog posts detailing all aspects of the show, the designs and everything related.
I have to admit, this came as a surprise to me, but it is a nice one.
Lotus One, the lounge bar and fusion restaurant, recently hosted an exclusive party in honour of socialite Paris Hilton at Lounge. And she actually wore one of my designs to attend the party.
Dubai Hilton
Paris @ Lotus One
She wore one of the exclusive pattern made for my label, taken from the White Collection.
Dubai beats Tokyo on the fashion scene? That’s amazing!!
Dubai At Night
Well, Dubai is proudly ranked as # 11 fashion city while Milan topped the list surging New York after the latter dominated # 1 for 5 years.
“The global economic restructuring has affected the fashion industry just as it has touched everything else,” said Millie L. Payack, director and fashion correspondent for the Global Language Monitor. “The catwalks were still crowded though with the lights dimmer, the hype a bit more restrained, and ‘recessionistas,’ of course, thriving”.
“This exclusive ranking is based upon GLM’s Predictive Quantities Index, a proprietary algorithm that tracks words and phrases in print and electronic media, on the Internet and throughout the blogosphere. The words and phrases are tracked in relation to their frequency, contextual usage and appearance in global media outlets.” According to the Global Language Monitor
I’ve been living in Dubai for the most of my life. I don’t know any other home. As a young girl who likes fashion, I’ve seen the fashion scene in Dubaimature and become more cosmopolitan. It’s almost well known that Dubai lacks a clear identity in terms of its fashion mood, yet it brings onto the table so much to look up to. Is it conservative? Modern, Funky, Classic, High-End, Ready-to-Wear or Couture oriented? Is it for very well established designers or emerging talents? Because the quality is immensely different.
That is especially clear at the internationally acclaimed Dubai Fashion Week where you see several designers with contrasting views towards fashion and the market needs. It’s not a Prêt-à-Porter show, it’s not a couture show. It’s not conservative; it’s a lot of things.
That, has so far been perceived as a negative thing, which in many ways it is. However, if the fashion organizers take a look at the fashion scenario from a different perspective, they can bring these varieties in the most amazing form.
If you go to Paris it’s because you enjoy and want to see couture at its best, with London, its funky street wear with an open minded creativity. There’s a clear identity and purpose of their fashion weeks. However, only Dubai has a variety of cultures, styles and serves more than 1 market. In the end, Dubai has a massive variety of population, tastes and cultures.
To bring together what we currently have in the fashion scene closer to the various markets and consumers in Dubai, there has to be standards set without bending.
There should never be a first come (pay) first serve to be listed at the fashion weeks. The screening process shouldn’t be conducted by an accountant.
There should be a big awareness campaign regarding the regionally based designers.
These designers should be able to get International level of training in Dubai.
All designers showcasing should have a theme to follow in each of their fashion shows.
Coherency is a must. Right now, the press pick up photos from each designer where its impossible to guess that both designs are for the same designer from the same show.
Professional models.
Professional Photography.
PR – PR – PR: Fairness to all designers participating. Once all have been accepted, all designers are supposed to get the maximum possible coverage. Or else, each would rather get his/her own sponsors and carry out their own shows solo with their PR working on their media coverage.
Bigger sponsor names.. come on, this is the image of Dubai which is FULL of big brands, if not the HOME of brands!
An International Fashion Designer/ Fashion House to be invited to showcase as the Grand Finale of the fashion week. Lets face it, what’s been offered is really not international. International is Dior, Donna Karen, Gucci.. Do I need to name them all??
International Press. After all of the above have been dealt with, invite few international editors. It will pay off well.
I live in Dubai, and I love it here.
As I saw the UAE growing into one of the most economically powerful and man-made countries to be proud of, in my field, I’d love to see faith in the designers around, high standards to be proud of and to have Vogue scheduling us on their calendar rather than us begging for the local newspapers to cover us. I know that we can make it, but first, we need to agree on what we want.
Did you know that Dubai is getting recognition as a Fashion City? We will cover that in another post.
I was honoured by the Arabian Woman Magazine naming me one of the 30 Awesome Arabian Women among others like Queen Rania of Jordan and many other amazing ladies.
I did take a long time to update my blog, during which, I visited Lebanon.
Apart from the great Spring weather and incredible food we had during the visit, Aiisha Fashion line is selling in Beirut now.
The prestigious Le Balcon des Créateurs, located in Gemayzé Street and at ABC Achrafieh (Lebanese Corner) is carrying a selective line by Aiisha. This is a big step for my label in reaching a more diverse, sophisticated crowd.
ABC Website
If you’re in Beirut, residing or visiting, give Le Balcon des Créateurs a visit, not only to see my collection, but to enjoy this unique shopping experience.
Le Balcon des Créateurs
And talking about experiences, Studio 8 had its opening on the 3rd of May in Jumeirah Beach Road, Dubai.
Studio8, Jumeirah Beach Road, Dubai
Aiisha designs are now proudly part of Studio 8 Boutique.
May 2009 – Dubai, UAE: Studio 8 is now open in Dubai. Bringing together some of the most respected names in design from Asia and the Middle East. Studio 8 is an emporium of style and sophistication. Manish Malhotra from India, Priya Kataaria Puri from Kuwait, Hatem Alakeel from Saudi Arabia, HSY from Pakistan, as well as Dubai-based Lebanese designers Souhad Acouri and Aiisha Ramadan are all showcasing their latest collections at the glamourous store on Jumeirah Beach Road.
Aiisha @ Studio8
Next time you’re driving down Jumeirah Road, stop and visit Studio8 Boutique, just opposite Mercato entrance.
