Rather than being trendy, Abadia’s pieces are a long-term investment you can treasure for many years and even pass on to the next generation. And the aunt and niece duo behind the Saudi luxury label, Naeema and Shahd AlShehail, are making it a mission to ensure their modern interpretation of traditional pieces celebrate Saudi culture and preserve traditional craftsmanship.
While everything is produced in Lebanon, it is the Saudi artisans they turn to for traditional techniques like sadu, embroidery and beading to decorate the timeless, minimal and elegant silhouettes that have an essence of history. By using local creatives, they are helping pass down Saudi skills and heritage to the next generation.
What’s more, Naeema and Shahd aim to create sustainable employment for their craft workers by introducing as many ethical methods that lower their carbon footprint as possible. For example, a lot of the fabrics they are using are deadstock and they showcased upcyled jewellery during Saudi Design Week.
The artisans’ beautiful work is integrated into each collection, like the spring/summer 2019 one, which was presented at Paris Fashion Week. The collection was inspired by the Eastern Province’s beautiful Al-Hassa, the largest date oasis in the world, where Shahd was lucky enough to be raised. And the handwoven artisanal details appear on khakis, taupes and yellows.
By presenting the collection in Paris, Naeema and Shahd are one step further in fulfilling their dream of helping to bolster Saudi Arabia on the international fashion scene. “People are often surprised when they hear that we are a Saudi brand, and that’s part of the stereotype we want to break,” Shahd told “Vogue” Arabia. “We want to showcase that being inspired by culture can be contemporary; that Saudi craftsmanship is rich and interesting.”
The show also featured a farwa, the label’s signature piece. Originally an oversized fur-lined floor length coat worn by Bedouin men to survive the cold desert winters, the designers have adapted the farwa to make it a standout article of clothing for the 21st century female nomad.
Fine points like faux fur, metallic jacquards, silk tassels, embroideries, sadu and the vintage trims seen in the spring/summer 2019 collection have all helped make it iconic. Even Queen Rania of Jordan isn’t immune to a farwa by Abadia’s charms. She was spotted wearing one at Princess Salma’s graduation from the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst.
Whether it’s a gorgeous, statement farwa or an accessory made from local camel leather, the design duo behind Abadia is using the country’s rich history and heritage to create something women want to don today. Authentic, quality-laden and striking, the items are designed for “a woman that has a unique sense of style but at the same time is not afraid of experimenting,” as Shahd told “Vogue” Arabia.
