It’s a dreamy collection that transports you to faraway desert sandscapes

Don’t get me started on Rami Al Ali. Can someone get him an Oscar for Best Fashion Designer? Once again, he stunned with his spring-summer 2024 Couture collection in Paris this week. A collection that centers on Bedouin heritage, it’s great to see how designers like Al Ali and Georges Hobeika are paying homage to their Middle Eastern culture this season.

Composed of thirty pieces, Al Ali pushed traditional couture craftsmanship boundaries, all the while remembering his childhood and the rich sartorial allure of Bedouin influence on the region. He takes great pride in his work, and you see that in how he makes sure a look is ready for the runway. Nothing that he produces is half done, but up to Al Ali’s highest couture codes.

The opening look, a latte colored column dress is most striking due to its flamboyant neckline and voluminous sleeves, particularly below the elbow. It’s simple yet dramatic at the same time. Al Ali incorporated arched curves on a couple of the bodices, like with the third look, the coral sleeveless dress. It’s also seen in the fifteenth look and the gown with cape-like shoulders and gold embroidered detailing. And the curve theme is also seen in the sleeve work, like the wedding gown.

Thobes and bisht’s are staples in authentic Middle Eastern dressing, and their stylistic essence is a part of the collection. “While emphasizing the distinguished design codes of the fashion house, the introduction of limited men’s looks subtly underscores the breadth of Al Ali's artistic vision,” states the House in collection notes. In a first, Al Ali created men’s looks and the chocolate brown thobe, including the quintessential embroidery, in gold, along the seams. And look nine, though for women, has a fabulous bisht-like coat that would make any woman feel regal.

To tell the sartorial story of this collection, Al Ali used an array of fabrics from sheer silks, organza, muslin, tulle, liquid satin, and Gazar. Since it’s a spring-summer collection, it’s all about airiness, hence the use of lightweight fabrics. And because it’s a collection about Bedouin culture, the color palette of soft pinks, maroon, copper orange, black, dark browns, and beige bring desert sandscapes into reality.

This is a glamorous collection embracing a rich region of the world. While Al Ali isn’t one of the large Couture houses, he creates quality, and that’s what we appreciate about him. The brand is quality over quantity.