Suite 1521's bespoke fashion currency comes to town

Dubai - With prices starting at Dh8,000, this truly is about high-end and special fashion

This week, three of fashion's heavyweights are available to meet at Dubai's Fairmount The Palm: Laura Mulleavy (from Rodarte), Antonio Berardi and David Koma. Accompanying them are their complete Fall/Winter 2017 collections fresh off the runways of New York and London. Over the next three days, they will meet 20 clients a day, and you can personalise your own piece from the collection.
There is one catch: You have to be a member of Suite 1521. This members-only club, that already has an edition on New York's chic Madison Avenue, invites its members to attend closed-door presentations with designers. The NY Suite 1521 has designers such as Jason Wu, Peter Pilotto and No 21 on its roster. After the Big Apple, the first stop for Suite 1521 is Dubai - with this carefully-curated flash retail experience at the Fairmont.
Working with Suite 1521 is Marriam Mossalli, from Jeddah-based luxury marketing company Niche Arabia, who says: "Dubai is now the centre of fashion in the region. And now all designers are looking to the Middle East. Fashion is all about attracting a diverse client base. And these designers work well for the market. Antonio's long-flowing gowns have some subtle amount of skin show, Los Angeles-based Rodarte is all about femininity and David's clothes are for the girl who loves to go clubbing."
Rodarte was actress Laura Dern's designer of choice at the Oscars last month; Brie Larson also wore a Rodarte for the Golden Globes. Both these gowns are here in Dubai as part of the Suite 1521 collection. With prices starting at Dh8,000, this truly is about high-end and special fashion.
"The Middle East is now one of fashion's most important zones," says Berardi. "They are so aware of what is happening in fashion. And they are experimental." He has come with over 150 pieces from his Fall/Winter collection. With both Madonna and Amy Adam's style teams having already made requests for pieces from this collection, Berardi is a designer who understands the red carpet. This is probably why he is here with a gown-heavy selection.
Said the British designer who is of Sicilian origin: "England likes more tailored pieces. Here, it is about the gown. Shoppers from here also like pieces that last more than one season."
With clients from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Qatar and Saudi Arabia all having secured appointments, the designers' schedules are already full. Suite 1521 plans to come back next with a well-known British couture designer. Shopping in this region is about to get even more exclusive.
sujata@khaleejtimes.com