GULFWEEKLY: As Arab-inspired fashion continues to woo style aficionados around the world, a growing number of designers are rethinking the aesthetic from an international lens.
Earlier this year, British actor Emily Blunt wore a number by Saudi couture house Ash Studio to the Met Gala. The all-black ensemble nodded to the modest abaya, featuring royal-coded fabrics like silk and tulle. Nomadic tassels and hand-embroidered glass beads were reminiscent of Arab luxury.
Closer to home, Bahraini womenswear label Noon by Noor’s Spring-Summer 2026 collection brings alive desert-core; earthy tones framed in flowy silhouettes, all with a contemporary touch.
These designs blend modern functionality with heritage, making them appealing to an international audience. For the Arab wearer, a modern spin on traditional wear offers a chance to be creative while staying true to one’s roots.
Reflecting this amicable fusion of the modest grace of the East with international sensibilities is Selhaya, a London-based luxury abaya label.
Founded by British designer Aisha Hossain and technology leader Sajjad Choudhury, the brand is well known for its ethnic silk robes. It recently hosted its first cultural salon at Mansion House in London to announce the fashion house’s first official royal patron – Queen Temitope Morenike Enitan-Ogunwusi – who was draped in The Coronation, a gold crystal and pearl silk piece from Selhaya’s Royal Collection.
The salon brought together guests from around the world including Bahrain, presenting the brand’s ceremonial silk pieces and the maison’s first set of framed silk artworks. It also featured discourse on fashion and identity.
“I was invited to the salon, where I had the pleasure of performing and spending the afternoon with an extraordinary mix of royalty, diplomats, founders and creatives,” Bahrain-based singer and songwriter Sara Watson told GulfWeekly.
“I wore a bespoke design coined The Azure Covenant created especially for me by Aisha – a two-tone abaya-gown in royal blue silk crepe layered over sky-blue silk satin, entirely hand-finished with crystal and pearl embellishments.
“I felt like a princess wearing it. The cape flowed beautifully, but it was the unique design and craftsmanship that really stayed with me,” added the Irish expatriate and luxury business and events consultant.
The Bahrain resident of 10 years noted that living in the kingdom, she has observed a keen taste for beautifully made abayas. “What excites me now is seeing international audiences beginning to appreciate them not simply as modest dress, but as works of design and luxury craftsmanship in their own right.
“Selhaya takes that one step further. Rather than following seasonal trends, the maison creates pieces that feel timeless. You are immediately drawn to the quality of the silk, the handwork and the storytelling behind each design. I think today’s luxury customer cherishes meaning and beauty, and that’s exactly what I experienced,” she explained.
Other standout designs showcased at the event included Sanctum Aurea, which celebrates light and ceremony through rich gold silk and intricate embroidery. The Violet Inheritance explores heritage through deep plum silk velvet and sculptural floral detailing. While Sovereign Night interplays black silk velvet with gold silk satin and crystal embellishments.
The salon also featured the brand’s silk artworks, which feature the label’s couture techniques used in its garments, transforming them into framed works for the home. The Sovereign Jewel, presented to Queen Temitope, is created on gold silk taffeta with more than 800 individually applied crystals.
The Eternal Order is inspired by the geometric beauty of Eastern empires and a classic example of designers dipping into Arab culture for their pieces. As is The Veil of Continuity, which is inspired by the battoulah – the traditional facemask worn by Muslim women in the Arabian Gulf.
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