Designer Latifa Al Gurg on the inspiration behind the winter collection of this homegrown fashion line
What’s the story behind your label Twisted Roots? As a frequent traveller, I was often struggling to find comfortable, stylish clothing that was modest yet spoke to my sense of style and was easy to mix and match. I was always trying to find clothes such as pants, shirts and scarves that could easily be combined. From that came Twisted Roots. How would you describe your aesthetic? I have embedded aspects of my heritage into my designs. I’m half Danish. My Emirati side brings a more conservative aspect to the brand and my Scandinavian side has allowed me to adopt skills in layering clothes, bringing in clean and tailored silhouettes. You come from a construction/ architecture background. How did that influence your designs? I grew up in a family who were heavily involved in construction and architectural design. This allowed me to attain a great eye for detail, structure and lines. Tell us more about your new AW16 collection Watercolors Of Fog London’s weather was a key point in the inspiration of the colour palette of blues and greys. It represents the city in such a way that it reminded me of a watercolour painting. Another aspect was the old ornate architecture, which sits so well beside the minimal, modern lines of the new. I was also inspired by Savile Row and its rich history of tailoring. These aspects meld together into a collection that is tailored yet soft and classic. What tips would you give on layering? Use a neutral colour palette so you can put anything together and have it look good. I would say keep it simple. A jacket or scarf can dress up the simplest of outfits. How much do your designs cost? Our prices range from Dhs460 for a scarf to Dhs1,600 for a wool jacket. And lastly, what’s your current fashion obsession? Right now, I love a statement shoe. I’ve always loved shoes and you can change a whole look with your shoe choice.
House Of Fraser, Yas Mall, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, Sat to Wed 10am to 10pm, Thur and Fri 10am to midnight. Tel: (02) 6740323. Taxi: Yas Mall. yasmall.ae, twistedroots.ae Hosted on the last Thursday of every month, shopaholics can check out a brand new Mediterranean-inspired night market at The Walk at Al Seef Resort.
Organised by Tiny Bean Events (they also manage the Shopping Soiree at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club, UpMarket at Saadiyat and the Saturday Market at Yas Marina), guests can expect a unique alfresco shopping experience that features quirky homegrown brands from the region including handmade handbags from Mia & Me, holiday-inspired fashions from Child Of The Tropics, accessory line Shawleez and educational toys from Journey Toys.
In addition to all the pop-up stalls, there will also be activities on offer for the kids including sand art sessions. Entry is free and underground parking is also available. December 29
Mamsha Al Seef, Al Seef, Abu Dhabi, 5pm to 10pm, free. Taxi: next to Al Seef Village Mall And Resort. andalus.ae/ mamsha-al-seef