Saudi fashion designer and businesswoman Hania Albarikan knew she was interested in fashion and design ever since she was a little girl. She used to design her own abayas, for which she received many compliments. Later, she decided to join her family business and launch her own luxury abaya brand.
After obtaining a bachelor degree in Economics, Hania went on to study photography and fashion. In June 2011, Hania began consulting for her family’s abaya business in the design stages before launching her own line — HANIA — as part of her family’s company. HANIA now stands as a brand that comprises everything that a confident, ambitious and bold woman could want in a clothing collection.
“I design luxury abayas and kaftans but this is only the starting and there are many other projects that I am working on for the future,” she said. “I chose to start with abayas because they are a reflection of my roots and traditions. With regard to creativity in abayas, the sky is the limit,” she added.
Hania’s abayas are luxurious, unique and feminine. This is something that has been proven true as she began building her brand, especially when she started dressing some of the most prominent women here, including Princess Ameerah, wife of Prince Alwaleed bin Talal. “I like using rich fabrics and combining it with details. For me, fashion is a statement of elegance,” she added. “It takes me three months to prepare for a new collection. I start by sketching and choosing suitable fabrics and I am constantly searching for a source of inspiration in the process,” she added.
Taking inspiration from every aspect of life and from different cultures of countries she visited, Hania uses what she learns and constantly enriches her skills to remain at the forefront of the luxury fashion industry.
Each collection has a different story and a different inspiration, according to Hania. “I get inspiration from everything around me; my travels are a main source of inspiration because I simply love exploring new and different cultures,” she added.
Success does not come easy when it comes to abaya business in Saudi Arabia and in the GCC region. Hania said fashion designers need to come up with something new and attractive for every season. “I usually like to send a message through clothing and my designs. I want people to know that Muslim women are able to be fashionable and classy even if only by wearing an abaya,” she said.
The fashion designer is known for blending traditional designs with international style in her abayas. “Our culture is rich with many details and engraving, I try to blend modern and cultural styles in an appropriate way to show our beautiful taste,” she said.
“My abayas use handmade embroidery and embellishment. We choose high quality fabric and we care about the finishing and final result. I usually use different fabrics, such as, crepe, silk and lace. The last abaya collection was for a bridal show in Dubai, where the collection was chic, classy and feminine, something perfect for the bride. I used rich details and Swarovski stones,” she added.
Hania’s abaya’s was first sold at Saks Fifth Avenue, Riyadh and will soon be available at Harvey Nichols, Riyadh. She also sells her collection in her Riyadh boutique, USH boutique in Dubai and at Jolamode in Qatar. HANIA also sponsored abayas for female actors of the Khaleji TV series “Al Sultana.” The series will be shown next Ramadan on Dubai, Rotana and on MBC 1.
Hania Albarikan: A confident name for luxury abayas
Hania Albarikan: A confident name for luxury abayas
