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Designer Baza Alzoman was born and raised in America, but thanks to her Kuwaiti parents, she always felt the need for the Middle East. “I grew up in America, but I’m known as an Arab,” she says. National.
In a showroom in the Faubourg-Montmartre region of Paris, Alzoman is showing its new Spring/Summer 2023 collection as part of Paris Fashion Week. As ever, the artfully embellished skirts and dresses are a product of her own upbringing. After growing up in two cultures, she realizes that while both have a lot to offer, they don’t quite fit her as a third-culture child.
“I thought something was missing. When American fashion spoke to me in one way, and Kuwaiti fashion spoke to me in another, I felt I was missing something, something that represented me.
That gap inspired her to start her own label, she said. He said: “For me, it represents a new era for Arab women. She is not very traditional when it comes to that extreme fashion, but she loves that luxury. But at the same time, he wants that modern approach.”
Alzoman’s aim is to bridge the gap between the simplicity of American design with the love of dress rooted in Arabic fashion. The result? Dresses that emphasize the woman “so it’s more about her”.
“So that’s what I offer. Fashion makes people feel a certain way, and for me it’s all about love—for me, fashion was love at first sight.”
Having trained at Parsons in New York and completed an internship with evening wear designer Naeem Khan in the same city, Alzoman already has enough design knowledge under her belt, but she’s always looking to expand that further. One of the things she enjoys most, she says, is the constant challenge of design. “There’s a lot of learning through trial and error about construction, as far as familiarizing yourself with different fabrics.
“For us, sequins is really new, and especially with the hombre influence, there are only certain ways you can cut the fabric. So it’s a lot of fun for me. It’s always a challenge, and I am. You’re always learning something new.”
Those sequins are a completely new addition to the brand for spring/summer 2023, and they come both in dark, shiny black – like sheer dresses and midi cocktail dresses – and as a metallic gradient, moving from matte silver to a darker, more burnt tone. This finish turned out to be a fitted, midi-length dress, thanks to the tulle band at the waist, it looks like a crop top and a matching pencil skirt; And like a single-breasted jacket with kick-flared pants.
“I think the nature of fashion is that people like to see new things, and sequins add a nice touch. And post-Covid, I feel like everyone is now back to dressing for spring/summer 23,” says Alzoman.
Another new arrival for the label this season is color, especially pink. “This is me getting on board with the Barbiecore trend,” Alzouman says with a laugh.
While Barbie suggests a shocking, seductive pink by Alzoman, it’s a much softer, more romantic shade – with a warm, coral tone. “We have to be loyal to the brand,” she says.
One pink dress in particular, with a boning corset, ruched sleeves and a mermaid hem, is a fresh update on the classic mermaid-cut gown. With thin straps and full, almost flared sleeves, it brings a new twist. “What we Arab women want but don’t necessarily have is a statement dress,” says Alzoman.
As well as shine and color, there are also new links on the neck, which allows the owner to play a little. They can be worn as a choker, tied behind the neck as a scarf, or left to run across the collarbone from shoulder to shoulder. “The theme was to have these little ties that could be mixed and matched and moved with the dress, even though they were cut out.”
For all the new ideas that come this season, one dress is especially characterized by absolute minimalism. It is an off-white column dress, with an overcoat of wool. Held on one shoulder, the tulle provides a second, neat layer to the hem and ends with a short train. Fun in short, it’s also a prime example of how Alzoman appeals to two different customers. For her Arab customers, the dress is a sophisticated look for a party. But for the European customer, he makes a unique beautiful wedding dress.
This broad appeal all comes down to compromise and cutting, she believes. “How something wears is always at the forefront of my mind. How does it feel on the body? Our brand caters to different body shapes and requirements, and that’s another thing I try to focus on: universal fashion.”
But the key to Alzoman’s success is more than just letting a woman embrace her curves. She says it comes from her inner understanding of Arab culture. “Even at parties, there’s more careful dressing. So it’s a little bit of both—accommodating the body and accommodating the culture.”
“I really try to evoke emotion. I do a lot of open shoulders,” she says, very elegantly.
“For me, design is about compassion, and at the end of the day, clothes are meant to be worn and enjoyed and danced.”
Updated: October 04, 2022, 8:47 am
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