Always buying off the rack can be unoriginal and uninspiring, so TOAD has been busy hunting down a label that offers beautiful, unique designs.
Valentine’s Day isn’t the only reason to look forward to February. The fashion industry anticipates it because that’s when the bridal expo at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre comes to town, on February 12-15. The owners of Trio Couture are also excited, as they’ll be launching their newest line at the same time.
Trio Couture is a bespoke fashion label and boutique offering couture abayas, jalabiyas (Arabic party gowns) and gowns in haute styles. As the name suggests, the company is run by three women living in Abu Dhabi – Huda Al Shamsi, Itaf Adnan and Fatima Kadass.
The label is based in a boutique in Al Khalidiyah, from which the women design pieces ranging from bridal gowns and party dresses to outfits fit for a red carpet event. The line has become popular with Emirati women, particularly the unique and exquisite abayas and jalabiyas that cater to a niche market in Abu Dhabi.
The designs are created by Itaf, while Huda and Fatima cover the administration and marketing.
The boutique was formed in 2010 by the three ladies, and their designs are now worn by stars on the red carpet and royal family members.
The trio was delighted by the enthusiasm of their shoppers, which made their business grow at a rapid rate. Huda says, ‘We have a real love for fashion and we felt like there wasn’t enough in Abu Dhabi for ladies – there is so much in Dubai but Abu Dhabi really needed something like this.’
The three friends shared a love of clothing, with Itaf studying design at university and taking charge of the manufacturing. Fatima urged the three to band together and founded the business that is now the only one of its kind in Abu Dhabi. Itaf says, ‘We are so happy with the direction Trio Couture has gone – it’s so important to us, and we are passionate about the designs.’
The boutique offers bespoke creations to suit anyone, with each piece having its own individual flare. Huda explains, ‘We came together in 2010, and we work closely together – Itaf does the designs but we all work together to streamline the collection. It’s great fun. We get along well, so it’s a really united effort. We love working together and all have an input into the collections and the label.’
The designs come together in different ways, as Itaf sometimes has inspiration for a fabric but no design, or vice versa. She shows us an embroidered flower that is pinned to a sketch. ‘I sometimes form the dress’s design first and then the fabric, but other times, like here – I get an idea for a fabric and make a dress to suit the pattern,’ she says. Suit they do, as stunning hand-woven gowns in sparkling colours adorn the boutique.
The trio’s bespoke wedding gowns are made entirely by hand. The most intricate stitching and detailing can take up to two months to complete. As we walk through the boutique, we can see some of Itaf’s sketches, alongside the actual gowns – it’s an all-in-one boutique, design and workshop.
‘We do everything in-house,’ Itaf tells us. ‘We make the fabrics, the embellishments, the stitching. It can take us weeks or months, because it’s all by hand.’ She shows us last year’s line, including one dress with delicate, colourful flowers that are hand-stitched into a complicated design. Itaf says, ‘This one took us two months to finish, due to the stitching and the shaq [embroidery].’
Trio Couture creations favour waistline-hugging silhouettes, sweeping hems and embellished sheer fabrics. The designs are stunningly feminine and demure.
‘All the pieces are made entirely in our workshop here. We design the embroidery, the gowns, the fabrics, everything,’ explains Huda.
The three are happy with where the label has grown to, and hope to open another boutique in the capital one day. Ladies of Abu Dhabi, this label is one to watch.
See the spring line at the Bridal Expo at ADNEC on February 14. Level P1, Shining Towers, Al Khalidiyah, www.triocouture.ae (02 643 7552).
