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Former banker Samar Murad, who has a flair for fashion, finally put her designing desires to the test by featuring her first colourfully, conservative collection in Turkey.
The 34-year-old recently joined more than 40 designers from around the world at Istanbul Modest Fashion Week to showcase her brightly-hued contemporary clothing.
While there were booths and stands exhibiting numerous different designs, the mother-of-two was the only Bahraini to feature her work at one of the fashion shows set up in the fabulous setting of an old railway station called Haydarpasa Gari, overlooking the Bosphorous Sea.
Samar, who lives in Saar, said: “This was my first attempt and launch collection. The experience was amazing. My designs were created from my heart. It was my message to communicate to the world through art, that beyond worldly judgments and right and wrong, we are all connected.
“I was the only Gulf national and possibly the only Arab, in addition to Iman Aldebe from Sweden with Arabic background, to feature my work in the show. I felt proud and honoured to showcase the creativity from my country amongst a majority of European and Asian designers.”
Models adorned 12 creatively-sought out looks which included a diverse range of trousers, skirts, cloaks, suits, cocktail dresses and tops. Her personally, customised fabrics featured geometric prints and cool calligraphy.
Since the show was targeting women with modest tastes, Samar complimented her pieces with leggings, camisoles and other under-garments. She also accessorised her outfits with handmade hats, bracelets and necklaces that resembled prayer beads to reflect her theme which was Sufism.
Sufism is a mystical Islamic belief and practice in which Muslims seek to find the truth of divine love and knowledge through direct personal experience of God. Samar’s classy designs were inspired by her spiritual quest for enlightenment and the book of Forty Rules of Love by Elif Shafak, an award-winning novelist and the most widely read woman writer in Turkey.
After the show, her chic collection received a lot of recognition and even made an Indonesian magazine cover.
Seeing her creations on the catwalk overwhelmed Samar with feelings she says that she pushed aside years ago. Samar had been sketching since she was 12 and dreaming of the day that she would launch her own label.
Samar said: “I always loved fashion, art and creativity and appreciated it. I like bold designs, modern cuts and anything that is creative. I like simplicity that is not ‘too’ simple. Basically, a simple dress with an edge, whether it’s a cut, embroidery, fabric or silhouette.
“I like to combine couture and casual wear. I would not call it evening wear but rather ‘dinner wear’. My style is common in Bahraini living where people like to dress up to dine out or meet at posh cafes but the outfit is neither too casual nor too over-dressed.
“My family never saw this to be anything beyond a hobby.”
During her senior year at Bahrain Bayan School, Samar wanted to attend a fashion college to pursue her passion.
Her parents advised her to study something more ‘professional’ and instead she headed to the University of Bahrain to take up banking and finance.
However, her longing for a label lived on in her heart and she eventually left behind the numbers game to launch a brand, proving that you should never give up on your desires.
Samar said: “It was a long awaited dream of mine. I was always waiting for the perfect time to design and launch and the only thing stopping me was fear. I’m so glad I finally did it!”
Now, she is focusing her energy on marketing her brand across the region.
She is popular on Instagram as @samarmurad and is currently working on a website and possible sales points.
