Hanan and Hessa Ozair, the young Emirati design entrepreneurs behind the Dubai-based independent fashion brand, POSE/ARAZZI, have always had a vision of fashion being their career destination. Having been raised in Dubai – the Middle East’s most cosmopolitan and culturally diverse city, Hanan and Hessa have always appreciated fashion from different views, realising what exactly they wanted for a fashion brand in a city that boasts style and class at almost every corner.

After obtaining their business acumen from the University of Dubai, both graduating with a Bachelor of Business Management; Hanan and Hessa began to deepen their knowledge and area of expertise; the young deisgners enrolled in courses from the prestigious and world-renowned London College of Fashion. Transforming their innate love for fashion, design and details into an inspiring, independent fashion brand is Hanan’s and Hessa’s destiny. We’ve sat down with Hanan for a chat to find out more about this captivating duo.

When did your love for fashion start?
Since we were little girls. The evolution of Dubai drove our attention to how individuals use fashion as a medium of self-expression and to those who are using it in a form of creative art.

How did POSE/ARAZZI start?
We launched the brand in 2014. POSE/ARAZZI is a fashion brand that understands the difference between fashion and style. Cementing a strong vision since its inception, this Dubai-based independent label presents an aesthetic that offers timeless designs without compromising on its creative message.

Drawing inspirations from art, architecture, the environment and subcultures of the aforementioned, POSE/ARAZZI simultaneously combines design aspects from east and west while leading a unique brand message through its use of shapes, fabrics and details. We create ready-to-wear collections as well as bespoke, made-to-measure creations for its elite fashion-conscious clients.

Understanding the uniqueness of a creation and offering a client an exclusive range of designs, POSE/ARAZZI takes pride in producing only five limited-edition pieces of each design to ensure that the use of exceptional fabrics, trimmings and details is maintained at the highest standard.

“Allowing nature to dictate details, the use of strong heavyweight fabrics like leather and wool has inspired us to present each piece”

Is there a meaning behind the name Pose/Arazzi?
It’s unique moniker that combines the concept of posing and presenting a fashionable offering ‘POSE’ to an endless stream of flashing light bulbs ‘PAPARAZZI’; it reflects the brand’s elite clients and their desire to showcase head-turning style.

What is it like designing and having a brand as sisters?
Since inception, we shared a common vision and goals for POSE/ARAZZI, so we divided the roles between design and operations, where Hessa would handle the design and the production role at our atelier while I managed the business operations and oversaw the quality control. Though having said this, we often share a lot together and complement each other as we both are living our dream and are now accomplishing it together.

What made you enter the world of fashion designing?
Having learnt our business acumen in the University of Dubai as well as growing up in Dubai, channelling our creative energies and ideas into an independent fashion label was a natural step for us.

Where do you get your inspiration from for your designs?
We draw inspirations from art, architecture and the environment. We simultaneously combine design aspects from east and west while leading a unique brand message through the use of shapes, fabrics and details.

Tell us about your latest collection, is there anything particular that has influenced your designs?
Deconstruction of shapes cements the cornerstone of our inspiration with long & short silhouettes being reinterpreted with fabrics of a luxe variety in our Autumn-Winter offering.

Founding our inspiration on the historic design of coats, we have launched our brand with a collection that pays tribute to the traditional overcoat from the 1900s. Prominent design features from classic shapes, including trench coats and capes, are featured throughout the collection. Silver-colored metal buckles adorning the cuffs and waists of floor-length and short coats sit beside contemporary styles with zipper details, thick turned-up cuffs and tapered sleeves.

Allowing nature to dictate details, the use of strong heavyweight fabrics like leather and wool has inspired us to present each piece.

Exaggerated tailoring and unique draping can be seen amongst our coat collars which are finished with quilted detailing; while slim-fitting sleeves sneak out from metallic and black leather capes and jackets – a classic women’s style contradicted by the opposed use of fabrics.

What kind of fabrics have you used in your latest collection?
The use of strong heavyweight fabrics like genuine camel leather and wool along with waterproof material has inspired us.

How does your brand differ from other abaya brands?
We don’t categorise our brand under abaya as it is an outreach limiting and shift our focus only on the regional market. This is not what our brand is all about. We aim to build and grow a reputable international brand that takes into consideration the regional market by catering to their fashionable needs; such as what we introduced at our first collection where our long coats can be worn by ladies in the GCC as abaya.

Can you describe a typical POSE/ARAZZI woman?
She is an elite fashion conscious lady who refines her emotions by being brave, courageous and powerful in her social assignments through her outfits that reflect those character traits. POSE/ARAZZI crafted masterpieces aim to empower those who wear the designs by allowing the individuals to embrace their own unique characters and personalities, and display them through their own style.

Who are your favorite designers?
Lanvin, Oscar de la Renta, Maison Martin Margiela & Donna Karan.

What do you like to do in your free time when you’re not working?

Being a wife, a mother of three and a fashion entrepreneur, I prefer to dedicate my free time to my family or to read a book. While Hessa prefers to join the gym for some workout classes or meet with close friends for a good meal and a chat.

What are your future plans for POSE/ARAZZI?
At this stage, our focus remains on production, quality and increasing our outreach while maintaining innovation and creativity. We are working on introducing innovative designs for our upcoming SS15 collection. We are also working on expanding our outreach through carefully selected retailers locally, regionally and, hopefully, internationally. Currently we are represented in Dubai through The Cartel, O Concept, and Be You stores.