Review: ‘Darlena’ – a Saudi brand traditional attire

Women cherish wearing these garments as a way to honor their heritage. (Supplied)
Women cherish wearing these garments as a way to honor their heritage. (Supplied)
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Updated 23 March 2025
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Review: ‘Darlena’ – a Saudi brand traditional attire

Women cherish wearing these garments as a way to honor their heritage. (Supplied)
  • Darlena offers everything from basic designs to embroidered cloche abayas and options for the winter, all of which are regularly updated to keep pace with current fashion trends

If you’re in search of high-quality traditional attire with stunning designs, look no further than Darlena, a Saudi brand.

Darlena specializes in crafting pieces using premium fabrics, making them stand out in the realm of abayas and colorful jalabiyas.

Arabian culture places significant value on modest yet vibrant clothing, especially during special occasions like Ramadan and Eid. Women cherish wearing these garments as a way to honor their heritage.




Women cherish wearing these garments as a way to honor their heritage. (Supplied)

Darlena captures this cultural essence beautifully with its diverse range of designs that cater to all tastes. Their collection ensures that there is something for everyone, regardless of individual style.

They offer dresses tailored specifically for both warm and cool skin tones, allowing every woman to feel elegant and feminine.

The intricate embroidery and vibrant sequins added to the dresses accentuate various body shapes, enhancing the overall beauty of the wearer.

Darlena offers everything from basic designs to embroidered cloche abayas and options for the winter, all of which are regularly updated to keep pace with current fashion trends.

While the prices may not fit every budget, the exceptional quality of the garments may justify the investment. Darlena also boasts a loyalty program, rewarding returning customers with exclusive benefits.

Additionally, their website includes a dedicated forum discussing the latest trends in abayas, fostering a community for fashion enthusiasts.

Recently, I purchased a jalabiya for my Eid breakfast, and I was thoroughly impressed. The fabric is cool, refreshing, and incredibly comfortable against the skin.

Best of all, I paid approximately SR 522 ($139) for it, a reasonable price for such quality. The dress arrived within three days, and I absolutely adored the vibrant colors and exquisite design.

Darlena truly encapsulates the spirit of traditional Arabian wear with a modern twist, making it a must-visit for anyone interested in modest fashion.

 


Roksanda Ilincic on Gulf fashion and dressing global celebrities

Roksanda Ilincic on Gulf fashion and dressing global celebrities
Updated 03 November 2025
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Roksanda Ilincic on Gulf fashion and dressing global celebrities

Roksanda Ilincic on Gulf fashion and dressing global celebrities

DUBAI: Designer Roksanda Ilincic visited the Gulf recently with pitstops in Dubai and Riyadh to show off her latest collection and mark her collaboration with the UAE’s Jumeirah Marsa Al-Arab, where she created towering floral arrangements as the hotel’s first artist-in-residence.

Having dressed the likes of Catherine Middleton, Michelle Obama, Blake Lively, Cate Blanchett, and Anne Hathaway, the designer’s creations have also been flaunted in the Middle East with Saudi-born Jordanian royal Princess Rajwa Al-Hussein showing off a canary yellow look by Roksanda in 2023.

“(I) have to consider that those women are really under (a) magnifying glass … everything needs to be not just perfect, but also needs to last,” she said of dressing high-profile women.

The London-based, Serbian-born designer also spoke to Arab News about her Spring/Summer 2026 collection, which marks her eponymous label’s 20th anniversary.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by ROKSANDA (@roksandailincic)

The collection was partly inspired by British artist and sculptor Dame Barbara Hepworth, who is known for her modernist work and her method of piercing the block. According to Pace Gallery, she created her first pierced sculpture in 1932, “introducing emptied space as an element in her compositions.”

To mirror that, Ilincic introduces organic holes into her upcoming collection, appearing on lapels and bodices across the line.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by ROKSANDA (@roksandailincic)

“At a time when female voices were not necessarily heard, she created an incredible body of work that is still very modern, very relevant today,” Ilincic said of the artist, who died in 1975.

“I started with her cutouts and dresses that were inspired by nature,” Ilincic said, adding that Hepworth’s distinct use of metal rods was reflected in her fashion collection through fringe detailing.

It will probably be a hit in the Gulf, where the designer says “women … love to experiment with fashion. I think they’re very, very passionate about fashion

“They love to show off their personalities, but at the same time they appreciate the art and craft behind it,” she said of her customers in the region.

When it comes to sharing advice for up-and-coming designers in Saudi Arabia, Ilincic stressed the importance of staying true to one’s creative vision.

“I think it’s very important to find their own voice … having that authenticity, uniqueness, very particular point of view, I think that’s probably the starting point.

“People may not immediately respond to it, but I think it’s important for them to (stick) to their original vision and something that is very true to them, not (try) to follow something that is already out there.”