Luxury labels target men with collections dedicated to Ramadan
This year, several labels have designed mens collections to also meet the requirements of a segment of their male clientèle during Ramadan, which begins on March 23. The goal is to tap the commercial opportunities afforded by this period while respecting a month that is sacred to Muslims.
Collections designed exclusively for the Ramadan period have become increasingly popular, though they have also been the object of some criticism for pandering to stereotypes, with an old-school, at times over-fussy vision of modest fashion, while labels have been seen as lacking inclusivity in their staff and choice of models, according to The National News.
As well as catering to a busy shopping season, this is a chance for labels not to miss an opportunity and especially a captive audience by designing products for men too, as shown by this review of the collections dropped by Mr Porter, Dior, Prada and Christian Louboutin.
Dior
A few days ago, Dior Homme unveiled its first men’s collection for the month of Ramadan. The sportswear-inspired range has been designed exclusively for the Middle East under the supervision of Creative Director Kim Jones, and includes t-shirts, casual cashmere sets, joggers, silk shorts, short-sleeved shirts printed with a diagonal Dior motif and a double-breasted jacket.
Accessories-wise, the collection features the Saddle, Dior Gallop and Dior Lingot bags. The range is completed by sneakers, moccasins and the Aqua and Alias full-grain leather sandals, in a palette of earthy hues mixing light green, beige and burgundy.
The label has also created a womenswear collection called Dior Or (Dior gold).
Mr Porter
Yoox Net-A-Porter’s subsidiary Mr Porter is back with a second Ramadan special-edition selection. The menswear e-tailer has curated a range including loungewear, lifestyle products, joggers, hoodies, t-shirts and slippers.
Mr Porter's selection includes products by more than 50 labels (including its own Mr P brand), such as Jil Sander, Rhude, Maison Margiela and APC, as well as by a number of Middle Eastern and North African designers, like Israeli-Palestinian label Adish.
The selection is divided in two sections. The first includes casual clothes and items suitable for the gatherings during suhoor (the pre-dawn meal) and iftar (the post-sunset evening meal). The second section is dedicated to the end of the month of fasting (known as Eid), and focuses on travel.
In addition, Net-a-Porter has also picked a selection of womenswear items. The products are available until the end of April.
Prada
Italian luxury label Prada has created an exclusive ready-to-wear and accessories collection to celebrate Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr (the feast that marks the end of the holy fasting period). The nature-inspired collection is a reflection on the passing of time, and blends nocturnal and bright colours, highlighting the contrast between light and darkness.
The collection consists of a fitted suit, a three-quarter-sleeve shirt, a pair of casual trousers, a signature Prada Saffiano leather bag and a pair of mules decorated with the label's logo.
The campaign shoot depicts Palestinian model Qaher Harhash dressed in a beige ensemble, in an almost surreal twilit setting straddling the border between physical and imaginary space.
The collection is now available on Prada’s e-shop.
Christian Louboutin
Christian Louboutin has paid tribute to childhood nostalgia for Ramadan in his exclusive Fawazeer Ramadan (the riddles of Ramadan) collection, named after a 1970s Egyptian TV show broadcast during the month of Ramadan.
The highlights of the collection are a pair of Louis Strass mules for men, and the wine-coloured Me Dolly Strass high-heeled sandals for women. They are inspired by a typical element of Arab architecture, the mashrabiya, a latticed partition often present in mosques and palaces. The collection is commercialised in the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and on the Christian Louboutin e-shop.
*The month of Ramadan’s starting date is related to the position of the moon over Mecca. This year, it falls on March 23.
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