Lubna Al Zakwani is one half of the dynamic design duo, alongside her sister Nadia, behind fashion brand Endemage. The label, which began in 2010 and is focused on revolutionising the world of contemporary women’s wear in the Middle East, features designs which are a blend of ethnic, chic and luxury, through a range of ultra-elegant, floor skimming, East meets West designs.
Endemage is all about including the Omani tradition and culture through influences in each collection, celebrating their heritage through design. Lubna’s personal style is of a similar vibe, using authentic jewellery to accessorise a classic outfit, something that she tries to implement in both her personal looks, and brands designs. As a child, she would love going to traditional souks to see the fabric and embroidery, and this has remained a main inspiration for her collections, which are worn both by Arabs, and also internationally.
When it comes to footwear, I usually don’t follow trends, although I will always be seen in a heel! Manolo Blahnik’s are my weakness, as they are so feminine and comfortable, and you can literally wear them anywhere. I have them in a range of colours as they are such a favourite, although I do also like some of the classic styles from Christian Louboutin and Valentino.
I purchased this Fendi bag, together with the scarf and chain, after seeing it displayed with the additions in London. I also got this metallic Dior bag in London as well, as I tend to do most of my shopping abroad, where the collections are different and more varied than in Dubai. The Dior bag is out of my comfort zone, as I don’t tend to go for flashy colours usually, but I felt that this bag would be perfect for weddings and evening events to add some detail. I would describe most of my bags as classic with a twist, as I prefer timeless to seasonal styles.
Growing up, my father loved nature and wildlife, so we had a farm with a lot of animals, which led to me having an obsession with giraffes, even though we never had them! I have always loved to be able to see them on safari or in zoos, and recently when my friends have been travelling they have brought them back for me, so I have started collecting giraffe figures.
For my graduation project at ESMOD, The French Fashion University, I had to create my own brand. I collaborated with an Omani jewellery designer, and this was the main piece that was made. It is compiled of miniature versions of jewellery, to make up the full statement, and I still wear it now to traditional weddings.
These are traditional Omani bangles made by locals. They are vintage, and the men who made them carved into the silver, with an incredible attention to detail. This is a skill which is so hard to find now that it has become commercialised, without the same craftsmanship behind them.
I usually burn incense every day, and then I will wear different fragrances depending on my mood and what I am doing. As I tend to go out in the morning and then find myself at different events as the day goes on, I will keep a bottle in my handbag and layer up my fragrance accordingly.
This look is from the Autumn Winter 2016 collection, and is one of my favourite pieces. As I explained, we always have an influence from Oman, and in the Southern part they wear velvet of different thicknesses throughout the year. I wanted to incorporate this, and to make it unique it has the colour in this shaded ombre effect, together with some beaded embellishment.
