Sahar Al-Oufi, an Omani businesswoman and fashion designer, is preparing to participate in the Middle East Fashion Festival on October 16. "SEE" has interviewed her and asked her some questions about her career and family.
-Do Omani or Arab women in general still need to know and claim their rights?
*The Omani woman was able to reach great positions and proved high successes in all jobs; this is a proof that she is well aware of her rights, and at a time like this everyone must know his rights and obtain them.
And if the Arab woman is governed by authentic customs and traditions, then all what she needs is to use her rights to build a happy family, healthy, close-knit community.
-How did you start your career and what is your field of study?
My studies have nothing to do with fashion, I am a graduate of computer science and I had worked in that field for 8 years, and I have founded the Al-Inqas company that includes more than one line of work since 1998.
Since childhood L have loved trade as I was raised in a commercial family. And despite that, I used to work and study at the same time I am an independent person who advance myself.
As for the field of fashion, this is a love and affection as I used to sit for long hours in front of the television to watch international fashion shows and I used to design school aprons for myself.
And then I designed my dresses, dresses of my family and my friends until I reached the decision to transform the love of fashion into work and a global fashion line
All I used to feel was that I like to be distinguished and design for myself because this helps me to be different.
I started with fashion pieces for everyday life, pieces for working women, evening dinners, or home invitations until today I reached more difficult and more accurate lines.
I became able to work and implement any idea I want to implement for my annual collections.
Fashion design is an area that needs continuous learning and taking courses if possible with reading and perception, along with experience and passion.
-In what fields do you work?
*I am in the first place, a mother of three children and a wife; this is my first and most important field, as my family is one of my most important works. And then I am a businesswoman and fashion designer of Arab and non-Arab wears.
I work in different lines of fashion, evening dresses, haute couture, and wedding dresses which are my main lines, but also custom design is one of the strongest points in my work as I receive many requests for custom execution from all countries, and my work in the USA includes two lines, a women's line and a men's one.
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Sahar Al-Oufi[/caption]
-How did you enter the world of fashion?
*As I previously explained, fashion is my passion and interest since childhood, my marriage to an Italian man, my presence in Italy, and Milan in particular in the first years of my marriage, as Italy is one of the most important countries of international fashion.
This made me be close to everything new in the world of fashion, socializing with leading designers and learning from them and from there I decided to have a line of well-known fashion bears my name and surname.
-Do Omani women have traditional dress, and how is it?
Omani women have more than one traditional costume, the Sultanate has different regions, and each of them has a well-known, beautiful, embroidered heritage costume that has colors that radiate joy and pleasure; this is why we have a special sanctity, and we do not abandon it on official occasions and feasts.
-What do women in the Arab world need to change?
*The only thing is not to follow fashion randomly and choose the most appropriate only, with the balance between design, size, and colors, as I constantly notice the request to implement a piece of clothes that was seen on another woman or in a magazine or party even if this piece is not suitable for her, here lies the conflict In changing the direction of the lady from and to.
-Do you support the imitation of the western style or sticking to the Arab heritage?
*My style is known as European- Arabic one. I do not support fanaticism and I refuse to adhere to one style. The Western-style is known and sought and has become a natural and required part on a daily basis in our lives as Arabs. As for the heritage we must preserve and be proud of it because it is an integral part of our existence as Arabs, Gulf States, and Omanis in particular, but reserving should be through different methods.
My passion for fashion stems from love and admiration of everything and every country, origin, and religion, so I take the favor of everything.
-What about your participation in the Fashion Festival in Egypt?
*I am very happy with this participation and I am confident that the Egyptian people will welcome me with love because they are beautiful, loving people and have a great position. I am proud to present my work before them since my mother is Egyptian. For me, Egypt is an integral part of my life.
Contributed by Ahmed Moamar
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