Omar Azure: Tailored Perfection

By MARRIAM MOSSALLI, MARRIAM .MOSSALLI @ARABNEWS.COM Published: Aug 18, 2010 20:54 Updated: Aug 21, 2010 12:11 The Omar Azure brand is all about superiority. And in fashion, it’s actually good to be stuck up. In fact, it’s welcomed. When you know you got something worth showing off, by all means flaunt it. Come this Ramadan, we are bound to see businessmen and men of style confidently parading their newest purchases from the high-end brand because they know they’re wearing nothing less than tailored perfection. Omar Azure is made for the man who appreciates the finer things in life. Sophisticated, established and confident. The Omar Azure man has a unique taste and a sense of style that is uncompromising when it comes to quality. The brand has refined the conventional denotation of sophistication in terms of men’s fashion. Sophisticated style is no longer reserved for immaculately tailored suits, but has now been appropriately translated into the traditional Arab thobe. That is because Omar Azure’s design philosophy is all about sophisticated elegance. “My designs are very much influenced by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe’s quote’ ‘less is more,’” reveals Omar Ashour, the designer behind the men’s brand. The pieces are designed with a focus on details, from the stitching to innovative, yet simple tailoring. New collars and cuffs combine different design elements. Stitches emerge as atypical lines and disappear where they are expected. These intricate details are what sets the Omar Azure thobe apart from others. Despite having a minimal aesthetic, the thobes are bold and masculine. The application of new, high quality fabrics reveal Ashour’s willingness to take risks, while his subtle manipulation of the construction exposes his expertise in tailoring. “Since its launch, Omar Azure has always been interested in incorporating new materials when creating the thobe, such as tafetta satin, fine cotton voile, as well as fine cotton and other mixed fabrics of the finest quality,” explains Ashour. Looking at an Omar Azure thobe, one can sense the architectural influence. “Architecture is considered the principal of all design principles and disciplines,” reveals the designer who is a trained and practicing architect. “The design tools an architect is taught are the same basic tools of mainly any other design field: Proportion, form, function.” The elements may be the same, while the canvas is different. “In architecture you deal with space, while in fashion you’re dealing with the human body. From a technical perspective, architecture paved the way for me to learn more about garment construction.” One thing is for sure, Ashour’s background in architecture has helped him develop a keen eye for proportions and total attention to detail. Omar Azure has unveiled its latest collection, appropriately titled, The Ramadan Omar Azure collection. “The collection is portrayed in the simplistic luxury and modernity of the designs and fabrics: Elegant and luxurious with a classic and timeless appeal,” states Ashour. The line incorporates new materials, such as fine voile and tafetta satin, which adds a refined touch. “Subtlety is the key to true luxury,” adds Ashour. Unlike most Ramadan collections, Omar Azure’s has a classic timeless appeal that won’t expire come Eid. “Our pieces are traditional, yet designed with a modern twist through their innovative cuts and fabric fusions,” states Ashour. Thus, the magic of Omar Azure thobes is its ability to make you look classic without looking outdated. From: Arab News