On July 4, 2023, the Oriental Fashion Show returned to Saint-Germain des Près for a new edition with a thousand is one colors. The Parisian spotlight shone on designers from the four corners of the globe: Lebanon, Morocco, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan… Each of these designers was carefully selected on the basis of international standards, but also for the excellence of their work, which marvelously combines the richness of Oriental traditions and know-how.
What sets many of these designers apart, in addition to their boundless creativity, is their commitment to sustainable, environmentally-friendly fashion. They are resolutely rooted in the slow fashion dynamic, responding to today’s ecological and economic challenges. Their eco-responsible approach in no way compromises their ability to innovate and surprise. On the contrary, they prove that fashion can be beautiful, ethical and meaningful all at the same time.
Much more than a simple fashion show, the OFS is a veritable showcase of French excellence and a bridge between the world’s cultures. The OFS emphasizes the committed dimension of fashion, showcasing visionary designers who are actively contributing to the development of a new era of fashion, based on ethical and inclusive values. Each brings his or her own unique touch, singular aesthetic and outlook on the world, creating a rich and diverse palette of styles and inspiration.
The designers
HIND ZEIDAN (Lebanon)
Lebanese fashion designer, Hind founded her label in 2020, Hind Zeidan Couture, a house allowing her to express her vision and perception of fashion as a Middle Eastern woman. A graduate of Esmode at Saint-Joseph University in Beirut, she obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design in 2018.
Fascinated by the field of fashion, she began her career presenting a fashion program on Al Jadid TV before pursuing design. Hind Zeidan Couture manifests a free creative spirit, a workshop in which different concepts and materials are transformed into works of art. Her muse is audacious and self-confident. A woman who overcomes every obstacle to achieve her goals in a patriarchal society.
SABINA VOLSKAYA (Kazakhstan)
Sabina Volskaya is a designer from Kazakhstan. Her speciality: she creates unique outfits for adults and children alike. Specialized in styling and hairdressing, Sabina might have been predestined to join the field of television or cinema. But in 2017, she chose to join the fashion industry and create her own brand.
Open-minded and attentive to children’s fashion, she creates trendy, safe and practical pieces to satisfy her youngest customers. She shares her artistic adventure with her children, who are a source of motivation, but also of constructive criticism, while acting as role models for their mother.
MOUNA BENMAKHLOUF (Morocco)
Mouna Benmakhlouf is a Moroccan fashion designer who studied art and design in Paris before moving to Morocco. She is renowned for her delicate, stylish creations that push the boundaries of the imagination by using unexpected materials and new shapes.
She also founded AEM Studio, a design office in Morocco, with the aim of promoting luxury ready-to-wear brands by showcasing local talent and fostering collaboration with designers. AEM Studio stands out for its innovative vision and willingness to push back the boundaries of creativity by combining traditional craft techniques with more modern approaches. The office team works closely with talented Moroccan artisans to create unique pieces that celebrate Morocco’s cultural heritage while keeping in step with contemporary trends.
ARUNAZ (Kazakhstan)
The Arunaz brand was born in Kazakhstan, and is based in Almanty. Known beyond its borders today, it represents the work of Nazym Karpykova. This designer has a unique style that combines elegance and sensuality, while reviving motifs and techniques that are specific to her history.
Nazym Karpykova proposes her vision of women through fashion and her innovative creations, which blend different materials, colors and styles. Today, in addition to attracting numerous designers from the international scene, the brand also participates in numerous fashion events around the world, and is increasingly successful.
MAISON SENNUR (Turkmenistan)
Sakhetniyazova Ogulmaral Garyagdievna was born on August 24, 1994 in the city of Mary, Turkmenistan. After graduating, in 2011, she entered Turkmenistan State Medical University at the Faculty of Medicine and Prevention, then, graduated from university in 2017, she then completed an internship at Niyazov Medical and Preventive Hospital, Department of Neurology. During her maternity leave in 2019, she opened the SENNUR fashion house, where she promotes national embroidery traditions, styles and ancient techniques.
In 2020, she participated in the Selin Fashion Show. In 2022, she organized and held “SENNUR FASHION SHOW” where she presented national styles of modern and traditional Turkmen clothing of her own design.
NÜN (Morocco)
14th letter of the Arabic alphabet. In Islam, the fish is the symbol of the letter NüN. Jonah is called Dhûn-Nün, and the 1ʳᵉ letter of his first name is NüN. But above all, NüN is a language, through which the designer’s heritage and passions are expressed: “NüN was transmitted to me in a dream”.
NüN is a feminine brand that is masculine. It’s Moroccan, cosmopolitan. It dances to the rhythm of the winds, sounds and senses. NüN has no age, because it is the torch of its ancestors. NüN is inspired by the people around her, by the wonders of nature, by the words that spring from her heart and the readings that nourish her soul.
AIZHAN KOLCHINA (Kazakhstan)
At the age of 3, like many little girls, Aizhan KOLCHINA, founder of her brand KOLCHINA couture, was designing dresses for her dolls, and it was then that she knew she wanted to do this for real: dress and make all the women around her beautiful.
Her dream came true when, at the age of 19, her aunt, singer and artist Aigul Mukhamedzhanova of the Republic of Kazakhstan, asked her to help her with a dress for a concert. It was her first commission. Today, she is the only designer in the city of Petropavlovsk to sew evening gowns and wedding dresses by hand. She is a graduate of Kozybayev NKSU, specializing in graphic design, and is also a certified cutter. In 2021, she is launching a line of casual clothing called “Mistress by Kolchina”.
DONIA SHIHADE (Kfar Yasif)
Donia is a designer from Kfar Yasif, whose creations, blending glamour and elegance, caught the eye at Maroc Fashion Week 2023 in Marrakech.
The graduate of Academia de Moda (the first Arab fashion school in Nazareth created in 2014 by designer Saher Okal) had won the competition organized by Maroc Fashion Week in March 2023 and was thus granted a place on the Paris Fashion Week stage. The young designer has already demonstrated her ability to play with materials to not only enhance, but also re-invent the female silhouette. We’re certain that Donia’s talent has only just begun to dazzle Haute Couture fans.
ADDY VAN DEN KROMMENACKER (Holland)
Addy Van Den Krommenacker is an iconic fashion designer from the Netherlands known for his elegant and sophisticated creations. Since childhood, Addy has had a passion for fashion, designing princess dresses. Over time, he succeeded in turning his dream into reality by becoming a renowned designer.
Addy Van Den Krommenacker has been recognized for his talent and contribution to the fashion industry. With his creativity and unique sense of style, Addy Van Den Krommenacker continues to leave his mark on the fashion world, inspiring fashion lovers and design enthusiasts everywhere.
About the Oriental Fashion Show (OFS)
Beyond the catwalk, the Oriental Fashion Show plays a crucial role in promoting Moroccan and Oriental fashion, giving Moroccan designers an international platform that crosses geographical and cultural boundaries to reach a global audience, celebrating a global community passionate about fashion and open to cultural influences and exchange. OFS builds bridges between continents.