Jonathan Anderson

All eyes have been on the streets of Paris as sartorial enthusiasts from around the world flocked to Paris Fashion Week. While the runway certainly presented some unforgettable collections, a lot of our major style inspiration came from the Arab tastemakers as they flitted around corners on their way to fashion shows or lounged in bistros.
The much-awaited Loewe FW23 show under Jonathan Anderson had many Arab faces in attendance with Rania Fawaz supporting an oversized knit dress in lavender and furry sage green boots reflecting the playful identity of the brand. Saudi influencer Hala Abdallah was spotted at the show in denim-on-denim with a white Loewe puzzle edge bag in her hand. Later, Abdallah opted for a burgundy ensemble at Stella McCartney with delicately designed jewelry from her personal brand Ofa.
Karen Wazen was understandably busy this season as she attended multiple shows in Paris – from Lebanese couturier Elie Saab to Isabel Marant, Dior, and Coperni. Valentino FW23 also saw a number of Arab stars in attendance – Salma Abu Deif was spotted in a shimmering mini-dress while Emirati singer Balqees adorned herself in a modest animal print jumpsuit.
Scroll down to discover what your favorite Arab style stars wore to Paris Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2023.
Imaan Hammam in Loewe. Photo: instagram.com
Karen Wazen in Coperni. Photo: instagram.com
Rania Fawaz in Loewe. Photo: instagram.com
Nojoud Alrumaihi in Hermès. Photo: Instagram.com
Zeynab El Helw in Givenchy. Photo: Instagram.com
Hala Abdallah in Stella McCartney. Photo: Instagram.com
Nada Baeshen. Photo: Instagram.com
Balqees in Valentino. Photo: instagram.com
Salma Abu Deif in Valentino. Photo: instagram.com
Dima Sheikhly in Elie Saab. Photo: instagram.com
Read Next: Here’s What Arab It Girls, Hala Abdallah, Rania Fawaz, and More are Wearing During Milan Fashion Week

Photo: Instagram.com/aminamuaddi
Earlier this week, the Neiman Marcus Group announced that Amina Muaddi and Jonathan Anderson would be the recipients of the newest Neiman Marcus Awards. While Muaddi will be awarded for innovation in the field of fashion, Anderson is being honored for creative impact in the industry. The two will be joining Brunello Cucinelli, recipient of the 2023 Neiman Marcus Award for Distinguished Service in the Field of Fashion.
“We are committed to Revolutionize Luxury Experiences, and our Creative Impact and Innovation honorees do just that through their unique brand expressions,” said Geoffroy van Raemdonck, chief executive officer of Neiman Marcus, in an official release.
Photo: Instagram.com/scotttrindle
Muaddi launched her eponymous brand in 2017 and quickly rose to fame. Since then, she has earned a reputation for creating the most coveted statement shoes and accessories. The Jordanian-Romanian designer counts Rihanna as one of her earliest celebrity clients and has now become a go-to for other fashion icons such as Bella and Gigi Hadid, and even Lady Gaga.
Anderson who is the creative director at Loewe, is nothing less than a visionary. Often credited with being responsible for Loewe’s success over the past decade it is no surprise that his unique sense of design has earned him this accolade. As stated by Lana Todorovich, chief merchandising officer, in the release “his thought-provoking fashion is a force that transcends across both men’s and women’s categories with a courageous ability to deliver the unexpected and keep customers on their toes.”
Todorovich recognized that “It is rare in our industry for a young brand to find such immediate success” before going on to praise Muaddi not just for her “distinctive aesthetic” but also for her sense of business. Neiman Marcus started working with the designer soon after her first collection was launched and seems to be looking forward to deepening that relationship. 
Both Anderson and Muaddi will be receiving their awards in an industry celebration during Paris Fashion Week that will count amongst its guests everyone from global business leaders to creative forces in the fashion world. However, the partnership between Neiman Marcus and the awardees will not end there as the company will be supporting them in merchandising and marketing. Fans of the designers can also expect a collaboration with exclusive experiences for Neiman Marcus customers.
Read Next: Amina Muaddi, Karlie Kloss, and More: All The Stars On The Front Row At Paris Couture Week SS 2023

Loewe Craft Prize 2021 winner Fanglu Lin’s work “She.” Courtesy Loewe
The annual Loewe craft prize announces its winner today. Chinese Fanglu Lin (b. 1989) was chosen as the winning entry with her work, She (2016). The release announced, “The work astonished the jury with its monumental scale and breathtaking skill.” Featured above, the work is influenced by the thousand-year-old sewing methods of women of Bai Minority in Yunnan province, China.
Loewe Craft Prize special mention Takayuki Sakiyama Chōtō “Listening to the Waves”. Courtesy Loewe
The prize, founded in 2016, exists to honor craft from around the world. This year’s edition sees the launch of The Room, a digital platform exceptionally featuring the work of all 115 finalists since the Prize’s inception. Aiming to incite Arab creatives to consider applying for the prize in the future, creative director Jonathan Anderson tells Vogue Arabia, “The Craft Prize is getting bigger and bigger bit by bit, and we’re getting more and more exposure and more and more applicants. I think my biggest thing to say is that we would like more people to apply and not be scared of the prize. I think it’s important to apply. We have some parts of the world where we have huge amounts of applications, some parts where we have none, and some parts where we have a just few. I think it’s about word of mouth; this is a globally open prize. It’s about word of mouth and getting people to encourage one another to apply for the prize.”
While Paris has recently reopened its doors to museums and other cultural venues, many visitors to the City of Light who are still unable to travel can view the Musée des Arts Décoratifs exhibition virtually via The Room. “Obviously this year is unprecedented,” comments Anderson. “We have done everything we can to physically show these pieces as a curated show, and to be able to get people to navigate them. We do encourage people globally to go to craft galleries and museums to be able to see pieces by certain artists. Ultimately, we are grappling with the idea of tactility, which is incredibly difficult in the digital world. The Craft Prize’s team has done everything in their power to make sure this experience is as interactive as possible, to make you feel like you’re in the Musée des Art Décoratifs.”
Explore the digital exhibition and The Room on Craftprize2021.loewe.com and Theroom.loewe.com
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The excitement is mounting for this year’s first-ever virtual and global iteration of the Vogue Forces of Fashion summit—and as if the event wasn’t major enough already, the iconic supermodel Naomi Campbell has also signed on to participate. On November 16 and 17, industry giants and Vogue editors will join together digitally to discuss topics such as racial equality, social justice, sustainability, and the future of the industry. The lineup of speakers includes Lizzo, who will be in conversation with designer Jeremy Scott, along with Virgil Abloh, Victoria Beckham, and Alexander McQueen creative director Sarah Burton. Also participating this year will be Alber Elbaz of AZ Fashion, creative director Craig Green, Bottega Veneta creative director Daniel Lee, photographer Ethan James Green, Loewe creative director and founder of JW Anderson Jonathan Anderson, and writer and director Reggie Yates.
Campbell’s panel will be hosted by a yet-to-be-announced special guest, but the discussion promises to be one of epic—or shall we say, super—proportions, with Campbell talking about her stellar career and political activism. The two-day event schedule will include opening remarks from Vogue editor in chief Anna Wintour, along with keynote sessions with Campbell, Abloh, Lizzo, and other industry leaders. Other components to this year’s virtual schedule include live Q&As with Vogue editors, networking sessions, and virtual drop-ins from surprise guests as well as a morning wellness session and happy hour on the second and final day.
More details and tickets are available on the Forces of Fashion website. Check back for updates ahead of the event, which will take place on November 16 and 17.
Vogue’s 2020 Forces of Fashion is presented by Jeep Wagoneer.
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Originally published on Vogue.com

Anderson continues to divide his time between his namesake label and Loewe. When asked about his first visit to the factory of the Spanish brand, he is not shy to show his excitement. “It just made me fall in love,” he says. “I liked that Loewe was not so popular at that moment; it was like a hidden gem that just needed to be cleaned up. When you get there, there’s nothing more exciting than to see people make something in front of you. You have to feel astonished when you witness the craftsman taking a sheet of black leather and transforming it into a three-dimensional object. I think that the ultimate luxury is craft and a human being able to make something. I just thought, this company has been going since 1846 and it has all this knowledge, so imagine if we put more energy in, what the outcome could be…”
Photography: The Bardos

It was exactly this transfusion of freshness, quirkiness, and capacity to produce “wow” moments on the runway while being faithful to craftsmanship that has become the signature style of Anderson during his tenure at Loewe. For his most recent winter collection, currently in stores, Anderson has designed showstopping pieces that cause fashion directors around the world to marvel, as well as a new clientele now encouraged by his fresh aesthetics. “I think that in the beginning, our very historical customers were confused with what I was doing, and it took a little bit of time for us to reassure them. After we changed the logo and restructured the factory, once people saw the end product, the opinions started to change quite quickly,” he comments.
Photography: The Bardos

“This season was all about exploring volume and the idea of clothing as jewelry. There’s lots of beading with a dégradé effect. Some of the looks are styled with sneakers. I like grounding something like a frock coat with utilitarian accessories. We have also designed a leather bag based on Japanese basketry. My favorite looks are the ones where we have collaborated with Takuro Kuwata, as I collect his work. The pieces he has made for Loewe look like leather but in fact they are porcelain.”
The New Loewe Store in The Dubai Mall

The good news for the Middle East clientele is that Loewe has just revamped one boutique and opened another one at The Dubai Mall, with an extended offering for men and women. It is planning to further expand its presence in the region with a new store in Kuwait.
Photography: The Bardos

But these are much more than regular flagships, as the retail floor appears like a mix of a place where you can naturally buy clothes and some home accessories, but also enjoy a beautiful space curated with one-of-a-kind art that reflects this idea that Loewe is a full lifestyle.
Photography: The Bardos

“I think that today, consumers shop differently because we want more from brands. There has to be authenticity. And for me, the store is the most personal thing,” justifies the designer. “I want to find things that you don’t see in other stores. I want to see a beautiful painting with a shoe and a bag. It’s a fun exercise to compile all these pieces and it is something I work pretty hard on. Just choosing the ceramics for the store is a big process, and I wouldn’t pick anything I would not have in my own home.”
Photography: The Bardos

On the topic of authenticity, it is quite remarkable to witness how an Irish designer has the capacity to successfully reshape the most Spanish of Spanish brands, without falling into bullfighting or flamenco dancer clichés. For Anderson, who just spent his last holiday in the country, this is a reflection of a healthy use of the rich archive of Loewe, without allowing it to fully dictate his design, and the discovery at his own pace of the Iberian country.
Photography: The Bardos

“I grew up a lot in Ibiza, and I began to know more about the country when we started to shoot the look books in different parts of Spain,” explains the artistic director, who now collects 18th century Spanish ceramics. “For me, it’s an evolution, to take it bit by bit, and being slowly inspired without forcing anything in my creative process.” For a brand that is so keen on made-by-hand, it is fair to say that Loewe couldn’t be in better ones.
Photography Assistant: Loc Boyle