Saudi fashion designer Hana Samman was inspired by the rich Moroccan culture when she designed her latest Ramadan and Eid collection. Her kaftan abayas aim to make her clients feel like Moroccan royalty. She also released her latest Spring and Summer 2014 collection using breathable fabrics and bright colors.

The first thing that comes to your mind when you think of Morocco is colors. The country is known for its colorful food, architecture and, of course, fashion. Samman’s collection is a true reflection of the authentic Moroccan culture.

In her summer collection, the designer used light colors to reflect the hot season as well as light fabrics, such as silk and linens. “I played around with these light fabrics and designed kimonos because people love the Japanese culture and I wanted to use the same method but using lighter fabrics and suitable colors for the summer season,” she said. “I focused mostly on pastel colors such as pistachio, beige, off-white and so on. You can also find kimonos in pink and purple for those who have a more vibrant personality,” she added.

Cultures always inspire the designer. In her last collection, Samman was inspired by the authentic Saudi culture and used the men’s bisht, tailoring it for women in luxurious and colorful fabrics. This made the designer specialized in using different Arabian cultures in her designs. “I love everything about our Saudi culture and I have noticed that many designers like to use our culture. Last year, I dedicated my whole collection to a men’s cloak, making it more feminine to suit women,” she said. “This year I went all the way to North Africa with my inspiration to reflect yet another rich Arabic culture, Morocco,” she added.

This is not the first time Samman is inspired by Moroccan fashion. “My previous collection was light and simple. I used light fabrics and pastel colors in the summer collection,” she said. “This year I took it to whole new level where I used heavier fabrics and materials such as velvet, silk and linens to make it more formal and suitable for a big occasion, such as Eid,” she added.

Samman’s designs are known to be unique for she uses different kinds of fabric in one design. “I am known for playing with different fabrics and it is my trademark. I always like to include two to three different materials in one abaya. I like using silk, lace, crepe, cotton and velvet,” she said. “My recent Ramadan and Eid abaya collection contains gold and silver threads along with a rich fabric in the whole abaya and in the belt,” she added.

The designer has recently opened her second boutique. “I have clients coming from all over the region who want to visit my boutique but it is difficult for them, especially if they don’t know Jeddah. So I decided to open a new one for retail purposes and for expanding my brand,” she said. “My old boutique is still open for my clients; it is where my office and workshop is located,” she added.

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