George Bernard Shaw said, “Some men see things as they are and say why? I dream things that never were, and say why not?” Omar Ashour thinks alike. “I personally believe architecture is the principal of all design principles.” A star on the horizon, who intends to change the course of fashion, architecture and be the change Saudi is yet to see. A professional architect and a designer by passion, Ashour talked to Oasis Magazine about his journey, ambition and destination.
Omar Azure, the brand created by Ashour, is a young and dominating brand in the Kingdom of thobes. Mark Twain might have said: “clothes make a man” but in the Middle East, it’s all about the thobe. While this is true, we delve into the aesthetics of an Omar Azure thobe. Some say your wardrobe is incomplete without a thobe from Azure.
What does ‘Design’ mean to you?
A very good question, yet not an easy one. To me, design is an approach to how I see things; it is a blessing and a curse, I must say. It is a lifestyle. It yields to finding solutions to different aspects of life. Be it a space, a garment, or an object. It’s a matter of proportions, and therein lies the challenge.
Tell us about your academic background.
I studied architecture in KFUPM, Dhahran, KSA. It was a great experience. As Coco Chanel said, “Fashion is architecture: it is a matter of proportions.” No doubt the skills and discipline I obtained from architecture paved the path to where I am today.
What distinguishes the new Omar Azure collection?
In this collection we carried on the path we started with in 2010, which is composing a collection of subtle, refined, and well-tailored thobes with an immense attention to detail. The collection is simple in design, timeless in aesthetic and proportions.
Elegant and luxurious with a classic appeal, incorporating new materials and prints for detailing, such as light velvet, grosgrain trims, floral and animal print linings. The collection is simple yet bold and masculine. The details are what make the sum; new collars and cuffs were introduced that all fall in the Omar Azure aesthetic. These intricate luxuries and the attention to detail are what set Omar Azure apart.
What have you done this time that hasn’t been done before?
Introducing velvet, floral and animal print linings to the thobe was a rather interesting challenge. My team and I tried to make sure that all these new textures and prints are trendy, subtle, luxurious, cheerful, timeless, and most importantly masculine. And as the season is almost over, I’m proud to say we are glad we took that challenge. The challenge picked up very well and exceeded our expectations. It’s very satisfying to see how our clients trust our designs.
What is special about your latest range?
I felt it was about time, to introduce light velvet. We used it on collars and cuffs. It turned out to be one of our best sellers. At Omar Azure we try to portray the thobe in a way that maintains its elegance yet remains contemporary. We all live in a small village at the end of the day.
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