“There were couture labels, sure — we’ve always been known for that,” she said over the phone. “But there were very few high-end contemporary options.” “You had to seek elsewhere if you wanted something that wasn’t a red carpet gown.”

Indeed, in recent years, the Middle East has seen a rise in local talent and support for fashion ventures. As more women entered the workforce, they sought out locally produced clothing that was attentive to the region’s social conventions and religious beliefs.

It’s also been fueled by emerging talent carving out a niche for themselves in the fashion business. In an email, Kuwaiti designer Haya Al Abdulkareem, proprietor of seven-year-old handbag line Folklore, said, “There’s a whole new demographic of consumers that support Arab designers and want to be dressed by up-and-coming names rather than major companies.”

“Middle Eastern consumers desire variety without sacrificing quality. “They can achieve this by purchasing local and regional designs,” she noted. “I believe we have a greater understanding of our culture and language, which gives us an advantage in communication.”

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