Isfahan abayas, caftans fashion show at MIA courtyard

The Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) presented the “Isfahan Abayas & Kaftans Fashion Show” at the MIA courtyard, featuring the work of 15 designers inspired by the MIA’s “Fashioning an Empire: Textiles from Safavid Iran” exhibition.
They have also embraced sustainability by using eco-friendly materials in the production of their final designs.
“Unveiling Isfahan Fashion” is a series of events ranging from film screenings, fashion, workshops, lectures, and curator-led tours under the umbrella of the exhibition.
The artists whose designs were featured on the runway are Qatari and Qatar-based designers ⁠Hind al-Mutawa, Mariam al-Muttawa, Mashael al-Noaimi, Al Anood Jassim, Innas Soufan, AlHanouf Binmagbel, Mensa Maryam, Rabab Abdulla, Aisha al-Noaimi, Wadha Mohsen al-Athba, Zain Eljabri, Fayroza Tarek, Nora Ait Taleb, Noora Abdulaziz al-Mulla, and Iranian designer Mahnoush Teymourzadeh.
The venue entrance was lined by designer mood boards put together by each designer and studded with various elements such as textile pieces and jewellery that inspired the outfit they created.
“Fashioning an Empire: Textiles from Safavid Iran” will be on view in the MIA’s Sheikh Saoud Gallery until June 22, continuing to highlight the significance of silk in the vibrant social, economic, and artistic life of the Safavid Empire (1501-1736).
The exhibition was first conceived by and presented at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art, Washington, DC, and shown as part of the Qatar-USA 2021 Year of Culture.
The “Fashioning an Empire: Textiles from Safavid Iran” exhibition includes a final section that embraces contemporary fashion designs, with five Qatar-based designers showcasing their bespoke designs inspired by objects displayed in the exhibition.