The Emirati fashion designer who knows the importance of giving back

Fatma Al Mulla is well known for her fashionable creations, but she has never forgotten the importance of giving something back to those less fortunate than herself. She may be something of a local celebrity in fashion but the glamour of her field never distracts Fatma Al Mulla from the importance of giving back. Her flair for design has also brought joy to the lives of seriously ill hospital patients as she becomes a standard-bearer for entrepreneurship in the UAE with her FMM fashion label. It is apt that her social media presence – she has more than 100,000 followers online – continues to expand, because it is partly due to social media that she focused on fashion in the first place. As a child, Ms Al Mulla loved designing and drawing but was guided by her parents towards pursuing law as a “stable and solid” career. After graduating from high school, she majored in visual communication at the University of Sharjah, retaining her love of design while unsure about whether she could make fashion her future. “I always had a passion for, and a high sense of, fashion,” she said. “But I always thought the technical side was not for me. “I started designing prints on fabric, and it was exhilarating to have complete control over how the artwork was perceived. “But after graduating from university, I was somewhat lost. I needed direction and to pursue something I was extremely passionate about.” She started a blog, “posting illustrations I thought no one would be interested to see”, as a personal project, and found her social media following starting to take notice. “People started tweeting and emailing me about purchasing the illustrations,” she said. “So the logical thing for me to do was to consider it. “My husband bought me a few books on starting a T-shirt label and how to use prints on garments. “Little did I know that those books would open my eyes to something, and was ultimately my direction to my passion.” At 22, Ms Al Mulla started FMM, which she describes as a Dubai “cultural and pop art brand”. She puts her designs on T-shirts, mugs and other merchandise, selling them at local boutiques. “Every year, I set goals for myself, and I haven’t not achieved one yet,” she said. Last year, she was nominated for the Emirates Woman Awards, and was asked to talk about her passion at American University of Sharjah through Shreaa – which helps Sharjah entrepreneurs. According to Ms Al Mulla, what makes her happiest is when she sees someone carrying one of her products. “It gives me joy that someone appreciates my art and my work,” she said. And she has also sought to bring joy to others. At Amana Healthcare Medical and Rehabilitation Hospital in Abu Dhabi, long-term patients Asmaa Al Mansouri, 27 and her sister Abeer, 35, who both have muscular dystrophy, were delighted when Ms Al Mulla visited them, wanting to help create clothing – for their brother’s wedding – based on the sisters’ very different fashion styles. Asmaa, enthralled by fashion since she was a child watching films of fairy tale princesses, wanted “something simple, clean and classic”. Based on her vision, Ms Al Mulla designed for her a cream silk jacket with an applique rose gold cuff, and a matching long dress. “My mother loved it, my sister loved it,” said the Emirati, who said working with a fashion designer was “a dream come true”. Meanwhile, Abeer – who loves all things to do with fashion and make-up – opted for a pale pink lace creation with a matching waistband covered in diamante detail. “I was very, very happy,” she said of being able to work with a professional designer. She and Ms Al Mulla are now creating -another dress for Eid. “I met these two wonderful girls at Amana, who have so much hope in life, and are -extremely witty and funny,” Ms Al Mulla said. “I loved designing dresses for them – they were extremely easy-going but they knew exactly what they wanted. “It was such a privilege to have gone through this experience.” newsdesk@thenational.ae __________________________________ The History Project: The many faces of her story ■ A look back to the past through photographer Ronald Codrai ■ First Emirati woman pilot who aimed for the skies ■ Before modern medicine, UAE mothers relied on tradition and community ■ The first female Emirati surgeon is fighting fit ■ Video: UAE's trailblazing female Emirati media personality __________________________________

The Emirati fashion designer who knows the importance of giving back

Fatma Al Mulla uses her talent for fashion design to give back to others, after creating her own fashion label, FMM.