Top accessory finds at Fashion Forward’s retail space The Garden

The fifth season of Fashion Forward brought back The Garden, which gives regional designers a retail space to gain exposure and sell their products. Located between main exhibition halls, The Garden showcased 42 brands, with products ranging from handbags, jewellery and hair accessories to graphic T-shirts and apparel. Here are some of the best. Exocet This dynamic handbag brand stood out from the rest of the python-print totes and hand-painted purses. Paris-based label Exocet presented innovative white satchels featuring clean, crisp lines and unique hybrid animal designs. Part of its new collection depicts delightfully bizarre elephants, owls and eagles, with scrupulous skeletal detail. Teetering between elegant and Gothic, they were the bags to snag. Minimalist yet cutting edge, the abstract animal structures are made using 3-D printing techniques in France. The designers behind Exocet, Yasmine Jaber from Beirut and Morning Lau from Hong Kong, both graduated from ESMOD in Paris before pursuing their joint brand. • The bags are stocked at The Cartel in Dubai, ranging from Dh1,400 to Dh2,200 FMM by Fatma Al Mulla Ever since her first collection of quirky pop culture- themed phone cases, FMM by Fatma Al Mulla has been a favourite of many UAE residents, locals and expats alike. Her newest pieces are by far her most creative and boundary-pushing ones yet, celebrating elements of any Middle Eastern fashion lover’s daily life: stacked bracelets, karak chai and Instagram selfies. Part of the new D3 community, FMM products were a part of The Resid3nt’s pop-up at The Garden. Along with phone cases, her printed tops and scarves were also on display, featuring the graphic designer’s cleverly pixilated depictions of oud bottles, henna-covered hands, camels and Cartier-inspired panthers. • These FMM phone cases cost Dh250 each, and can be found at The Fashion Vault and s*uce stores Joumana HH There’s been a rise in dramatic drapery and floral head crowns on the style scene recently, marking a comeback in Grecian fashion. Exuding an aura of romance and femininity while keeping a somewhat mysterious aloofness, it’s a trend that was quite apparent among FFWD guests this season, making it a perfect opportunity for designer Joumana to introduce her accessories brand to the UAE market. She is based in Lebanon, where her jewellery is hand-made from gold-plated copper and Swarovski crystals. Joumana’s stunning choker necklaces flaunt decadent vines, leaves and feathers; icons that may be simple, but are given a glamorous edge by the designer, who likes to style them with simple black dresses. • The choker necklaces range from Dh320 to Dh400, and can be ordered from Joumana via Instagram: @Joumana_hh Madiso Dubai-based Madiha Muzaffar may be a regular exhibitor at The Garden, but her Madiso accessories line becomes more extraordinary each season. This necklace is one of her latest creations, made from quartz, black onyx, agate, spikes and Swarovski crystals. It has a velvet-ribbon tie, and can be worn as a choker or at a lower length. While her materials are sourced from around the world, the jewellery is made here. Her other designs, including chunky earrings, embellished skeletal cuffs and semi-precious stone-studded neck piece are also truly one-of-a-kind pieces of art. She even offers men some bling, with brooches that can be worn on shirts or suits. • This necklace costs Dh2,000. Madiso is stocked at Galeries Lafayette and Valleydez in Dubai Neon Edge For a festive fix, Neon Edge was a must-see brand. Its dreamy kimonos, inspired by traditional Arabic bishts, or open kaftans, are crafted from soft cotton fabrics and bordered with pearl-emblazoned laces and glimmering gold borders. They are available in a variety of neon-hued combinations, as well as more neutral tones and an assortment of flowery prints for spring. The white designs stood out in particular, embodying a more-is-more attitude with grace and chic appeal. Designed by brand founder Mona Fares, the capes and kimonos are effervescent and versatile. Watching Fares do the rounds of Fashion Forward wearing her own designs provided sweet outfit inspiration. • The white lace cape, which retailed at The Garden for Dh1,100, can also be bought online at www.monafares.com . Su Denim jackets from The Garden stall of Dubai-based fashion label Su provide the perfect finishing touch to a festival-themed look. Made from classic white denims, the jackets have a cropped cut, and are spruced up with ethnic embroidered, mirror-worked front panels, sleeves and cuffs. The backs of the jackets feature trendy white-on-white fringing. Similar designs are available in black, and the fabric, sourced from India, also appears on fringed vests and bags, all manufactured in Dubai by Iraqi designer Suhair Sharaf. • The jackets cost Dh900 each. Su is stocked at Ginger & Lace in Ibn Battuta and Wafi Malls and Professionelle in The Dubai Mall. artslife@thenational.ae