Created

Created
for fashion-forward globetrotters, contemporary
womenswear label BEDOUIN brings together comfort and style.
Designer Andrea Farrag has an English-Egyptian background and spent
several years living in New York and
Bangladesh. Now splitting her time between London and Dubai, the
designer channels her worldly experiences into travel-ready
collections. BEDOUIN speaks to the globalisation of modern society
and the increasing popularity of nomadic lifestyles.

Whether you’re heading off on holiday or bouncing from one
fashion week to the next, BEDOUIN has you covered. The brand offers
modern silhouettes with subtle nods to the traditions and cultures
of communities around the world while recognising the diversified
faces of beauty. All of this is conducted in the pursuit of
Style Without Borders. Farrag shares with SUITCASE her
passion for fashion and travel, with some insider tips for the
perfect day in
Kerala.

Name

BEDOUIN

Designers

Andraya Farrag

Origin

British

Homebase

Dubai

Type of brand

Contemporary womenswear

Where can we find you?

bedouinstudios.com, byondonline.com, Galeries
Lafayette Dubai

The BEDOUIN woman is a contemporary, global woman with a love
for travel, design and diversity. Always on the go, our customer is
a spontaneous woman that seeks easy-to-wear, statement pieces that
are flattering yet stand out from the crowd. Though she may be a
minimalist, she gravitates towards items that celebrate culture and
tradition – perhaps a reminder of her own travels. BEDOUIN hopes to
boost inner confidence by helping her feel fabulous day and night,
from London to Mexico and beyond.

What three words best describe how you want the BEDOUIN
customer to feel in your designs?

Flattered, confident, spontaneous.

What does #STYLEWITHOUTBORDERS mean to you?

The hashtag is BEDOUIN’s way of encouraging our women to feel
confident and to be themselves no matter where they might be in the
world. Our goal each season is to provide versatile, go-to pieces
that make a statement. We celebrate beauty and traditions from around the globe and apply
them to our contemporary lifestyles.

How does the environment impact your designs?

The environment plays a big part in the inspiration behind each
collection. Every season embraces history, culture and landscapes,
each reimagined within a contemporary, urban silhouette. A great
example of this is our RISK TAKER parka, a traditional urban style
coat created with a metallic brushstroke jacquard inspired by
Japanese waterscapes and calligraphy.

When you travel, what inspires you most?

Travel is by far my favourite past time: I love to experience
new places, new people and diverse cultures. I am most inspired by
landscape, architecture and people. Traditional clothing,
techniques and colour palettes also inspire me. Travel opens your
mind to new possibilities – you never really know what you will be
inspired by until you get there!

Can you explain the name of your brand?

The label’s ‘less is more’ approach is shaped by nomadic Bedouin
tribes, encouraging our #STYLEWITHOUTBORDERS ethos. Designed with
the contemporary jet-setter in mind, each season
draws inspiration from the environment, travel and tradition.
Collections are stripped back, unfussy and timeless, designed to
live beyond the season. High quality, crease-free fabrics mean that
each item is designed to be worn day-to-night, in one way in the
city and another beachside. A hybrid of masculine and feminine
BEDOUIN designs everything from loose-fit silhouettes finished in
silks to clean cuts with a fresh take on traditional
embroidery.

How did you first become interested in Bedouin culture?

My father is Egyptian therefore we used to travel to Egypt a lot
when I was young. A camping trip in the Sinai Peninsula desert
first sparked my interest in the Bedouin culture. There we ate food
prepared by Bedouin’s and listened to their music – the memory
stayed with me ever since. Growing up with a mixed background – my
mother is English – in such a culturally diverse city as London, I
have always faced a lot of contrast in my everyday life. I now this
channel in my designs. Collections may be inspired by tradition but
they are reworked to become something contemporary.

How would you describe Bedouin fashion and how do you
incorporate these aesthetics into your designs?

Bedouins are desert dwellers who spend their lives travelling.
They dress to protect themselves from harsh conditions. It’s their
continuous movement that inspires some of the key elements of
BEDOUIN: freedom, confidence, comfort and independence. The label
takes these ideals and interprets them in the context of the
contemporary world, providing a fresh take on history and
culture.

Your designs are not based solely on Bedouin fashion, but also
reflect your own travels. How do you incorporate new influences,
but keep the roots of Bedouin style?

Each season is catalysed by a different culture, environment or
destination combined with contemporary design and luxurious
fabrics. Our upcoming AW16 collection draws inspiration from
Japanese culture, combining traditional geometric patterns and
architecture with urban street style. Representing the mountainous
landscapes and the distinctive cultural dress of Japan,
topstitching, flared sleeves, waved embroidery and brushstrokes
feature throughout BEDOUIN AW16. No matter what destination I am
inspired by, each collection remains adaptable and easy-to-wear,
giving our customer room to interpret the pieces for oneself.

Tell us about your time living in Bangalore.

I spent several months living in Bangalore,

India

working with an embroidery facility that produced for the likes
of DVF. It was one of the most incredible experiences and
eventually led to the birth of BEDOUIN. India is an inspiring but
very hectic place so while living there I got some much needed down
time through regular visits to Kerala.

Best time to visit?

Early June – right before the monsoon season kicks in. You may
see some rain during this time but it’s really quite beautiful.
This cooler climate is also an ideal time for the Ayurvedic treatments that Kerala is famous for.

What to do with 24 hours in Kerala…

Head to Fort Kochi and book into Malabar House, a boutique hotel
within walking distance of the impressive Chinese fishing nets.
Unlike many areas of India, Kochi has a strong French influence and
takes a minimalistic, undone approach to interiors – I highly
recommend meandering around the narrow streets and poking your head
into the small churches. Head to Teapot for a light lunch and tour
the backwaters. Though there are a few different areas to explore,
expect a peaceful day, full of beautiful scenery and a window into
local customs.

Spend the late afternoon unwinding with an Ayurvedic massage
before heading to Dal Roti for dinner. The friendly, knowledgeable
owner will greet you at your table while you enjoy north Indian
dishes and several selections of thali. I fell for this place
because of its minimalist charm with white walls, smattering of
tradition, large wooden tables and infectious community spirit.

Three places on your travel bucket list?

Cuba, Peru, Japan.

Describe the differences in the fashion scene in New York,
London and Dubai.

New York and London are fashion capitals, a melting
pot for emerging talent and household names. Both cities are rich
in diverse cultures, the varied neighbourhoods, music scenes and
inspiring antecedents have made their fashion scenes creative and
forward-thinking. Dubai, by contrast, has only existed since 1971.
Although its traditional Bedouin culture exists, the history of the
city isn’t as apparent as London and New York. The women of Dubai
love to be glamorous and aren’t afraid to be feminine while in
London and New York they tend to be more understated. I try to
envision how women from all over the world would wear BEDOUIN as it
allows me to provide something for everyone.

Where do you think the most innovation in fashion is
occurring?

It’s hard to say! I did my degree at Central Saint Martins
(CSM), London and met so many talented, creative and innovative
designers during my time there. Although a tough and competitive
environment, CSM is an amazingly inspirational place that teaches
you to be determined, creative and your own worst critic. Without
that, the world of fashion world be impossible for me!

Destinations that inspired your collections include Japan,
Mexico and Nevada. Where’s next?

Our SS17 collection is based on Morocco with some subtle Catalonian influences
inspired by a recent trip to Barcelona.