Photo shows the eight designers posing . — Photos by Joseph Shagra

KUWAIT: This May, Bloomingdale's invites its customers to discover the exclusive Ramadan pop-up featuring a coveted selection of modest fashion from regional designers. Labels available in Dubai and Kuwait include BOUGUESSA - known for their minimalistic elements coupled with clean silhouettes. Drawing inspiration from art, architecture, and global culture, BOUGUESSA combines straight-lined designs with elegant sophistication. Get the staple kaftan as a wardrobe essential with CHADOR. The brand relishes in the sartorial journey between modern and tradition, East and West, between contemporary elegance and the fiery passion of the designer Nora Aldamer's Arabic roots.

Alanoud Badr, internationally acclaimed designer and stylist known for her Lady Fozaza fashion line, continues to evolve and the latest collection consisting of the classic powersuits, abayas, blazers and more.   Having earned an international reputation for her show-stopping bespoke creations and pret-a-porter line, Dubai's Ayesha Depala softly structured designs in cream, mink and dusky fawn are a great addition to your Ramadan wardrobe.

The Bloomingdale's Kuwait Fashion floor also showcases brands including Amira Haroon, Osman and Sandra Mansour to name a few.  No iftar outfit would be complete without shoes and bags to match. Creative handbags from Sofia Al Asfoor, Amanda Navai, Nathalie Trad, Sandra J, Rula Galayiniand Okhtein and stunning shoes from Aennis Eunis- Bloomingdale's Dubai and Kuwait have Ramadan covered.

Kuwait Times interviewed one of the designers, Amanda Navai, who attended the event last week. Navai is a creative Iranian designer displaying her beautiful collection of bags at Bloomingdale at 360 mall. "I'm Persian so I like the lion, as there is always a lion in our history and mythology. I live in Lebanon now, but I visited Iran recently and was impressed by the culture. It made me think what happened there before and what is happening there now, and this was part of my inspiration," she told Kuwait Times. Some excerpts:

Kuwait Times: What is the main symbol of your collection?

Amanda Navai:  The Azadi (freedom) lion collection. There are always two lions looking in opposite sides. One represents the past while the other represents the future. It shows how important it is to remember the past and its lessons, and equally to be excited and hopeful about the future and everything it can bring. There is always a separation between them. The most important thing is the present, as the past and future are disconnected and the reality is now.

KT: What about triangles?

Navai: Triangles were always in my collections since the past four years. I decided to work on a full collection inspired by the Iranian artist Monir Farmanfarmaian, who is now 94 years old. She started work in the 1960s when she studied in the United States, and then returned to Iran. After the revolution, she moved with her husband to the States. After her husband died, she moved back to Iran and started working on a new collection with mirror work. She started with the collection 'Infinite Possibilities', which I really love. She worked on this collection for 10 years. When she was 90, she became the first Iranian artist to hold a solo exhibition at the Guggenheim, and became very famous internationally. This shows that there is no age limit for success.

The stars on some of my bags are actually triangles that symbolize unity, which means that together we are more beautiful. So there are endless possibilities of what we can do when we are united. I launched my first designs seven years ago, and the collection is repeated every season due to the demand, as people love it. All my pieces are made of python skin.

KT: Where do you manufacture your collection?

Navai: I'm based between Dubai and Lebanon. I manufacture at the same factory as Elie Saab. In the beginning, I was traveling back and forth, but then I decided that I want to be where my business is and I wanted to visit my factory every day, so I moved to Beirut, because I'm serious about my business and I want to be successful, although I don't speak Arabic. This is the first time I've launched a collection in Kuwait.

By Nawara Fattahova