With a touch of beauty and vibrant colors, the Emirati design platform at "Expo 2020 Dubai" showcased a unique collection inspired by the story of "Talli," to explore Emirati crafts and culture, representing them in a new style that blends the rich heritage of Emirati artisans with modern innovations that embody the various facets of the UAE, inspired by its legacy, identity, and the authenticity of its people. The highlight of this presented collection was a dress weighing between 35 and 40 kilograms, along with accessories including a crown, gloves, and a belt, with the dress and crown priced at 330,000 dirhams. It was designed by the world-renowned Lebanese designer Nicolas Jebran, exclusively for display at Expo 2020 Dubai, and crafted by Emirati artisans from the "Irthi" Contemporary Crafts Council in Sharjah, part of the "Namaa" women’s foundation, which supports artisans and designers, aims to empower women, and preserve the skills and cultural heritage of the UAE for current and future generations.
The design platform, launched by the design and crafts program at Expo 2020, was able to highlight the works of over 40 local and international designers, narrating stories about the UAE through exclusive design collections that combine traditional, modern, chic, and contemporary elements. The works of Arab designers and artisans stand out, translating fashion with vibrant Emirati aesthetic threads, placing traditional weaving skills in a new context to reassess crafts and produce modern designs.
Visitors to Expo 2020 have the opportunity to explore crafts and the Emirati heritage with a contemporary vision, as the platform features seven design collections entitled "Stories of Crafts," designed in collaboration between local and international designers. The "Designer of the Week" showcases exclusive works from 24 designers and institutions from across the UAE, shedding light on the diversity of the modern design scene in the country and its vibrancy.
The "Talli" collection in the Emirati design platform illustrates a splendid way of presenting unique Emirati handicrafts to the international haute couture world. "Talli" is a weaving craft characterized by bright and shiny colors and exquisite designs made by women, traditionally used to adorn formal clothing for weddings and special celebrations.
The dress, reflecting the "Talli" craft, took about eight months to complete, with "Talli" strips created by women who twist and braid threads drawn directly from various spools. They sit on the ground in front of a cushion-like support that holds the secured threads and hanging spools. Due to the craft's difficulty, it demonstrates the Emirati appreciation of beauty and luxury together.
Nicolas Jebran, known worldwide for his high-end fashion designs and luxurious, embroidered, and jewel-encrusted creations, has designed for many global movie stars. He drew upon the glorious golden days of haute couture, which were reimagined in the collection. Jebran affirmed that this collection is special for showcasing it to a global audience, noting that he has designed numerous dresses inspired by myths, fairy tales, and different eras, tending to create his world of beauty in his designs and turning his collections into an inspiring aesthetic reflection.
The Irthi Council seeks to utilize traditional materials, handicrafts, and other elements inspired by heritage to offer contemporary products that meet the requirements of the youth and the needs of the global market, where handicrafts possess many inherent characteristics that enhance the sustainability concept in the handicraft sector by supporting innovation, research, and collaboration between artists and artisans.
