10 Questions with Designer Rami Al Ali
Designer Rami Al Ali
1) Tell us about your background, where are you from, and where is your Atelier based?
Growing up in Syria with an architect as a father and a mother that carried herself with such grace and elegance always intrigued me. Both my parents created strong creative roots in me.
I graduated in 1995 from the Art College of Damascus University where I specialized in Visual Communications. In 1997, I moved to Dubai after working for two years in an art gallery in Damascus where I gained experience in the world of art, a true passion of mine. Upon arriving to Dubai, I worked at a few locally based fashion houses where I learned about techniques appreciated in the Gulf region. In 2001, I was ready to start my very own brand, with modest steps and assigning my label’s true aesthetic and DNA.
2) When was the big breakthrough moment in your career path?
There are many milestones that I am proud of and left a strong mark on my career. First must be moving our shows to Europe which granted me an international audience, initially to Rome and eventually to Paris. Another being the launch of my Ready to Wear line and finally launching WHITE in the midst of a pandemic where our peers were facing difficulties to survive and yet we managed to do well.
3) What is your vision of the Rami Al Ali brand?
To establish a niche brand that caters to an international clientele and represents the modern woman’s aesthetic. With my heritage in mind, my brand continues to focus on building a bridge between cultures and showcasing the craftsmanship and the story behind it.
I started with my couture line for the amount of freedom permitted in its process and for the unlimited creativity endorsed in the couture universe. Once I had mastered my experience in that domain and a strong demand for the brand was generated in a wider market sphere, our Ready To Wear line was established, connecting the brand with a more diverse audience, which thankfully was well received by many international department stores and independent boutiques.
Shortly after, I launched our White line in the Middle East, the bridal ready to wear line that proved to be very successful which is now allowing us to create great connections and expand our network for this line through top retailers in the US market.
In parallel to that, the brand has been always focused on going beyond fashion and I dedicate my time to uplifting women and the next generation of talent. I have honored my commitment to young couturiers with my mentoring program at the prestigious ESMOD Fashion Institute. I also took part of the non-profit organization Atassi Foundation exhibition that aimed to shed light on the early beginning of the women’s art movement in Syria. During the pandemic, I launched Ard Dyar, a concept and community designed to encourage open conversations with well-established Syrian figures in order to support the emerging Syrian talent across the world.
I have also collaborated with Dubai Design & Fashion Council as a mentor to help elevate local and regional talent and support the development of a sustainable industry. My latest contribution to the next generation of talent and the environment has been my jury role in Junk Kouture which allows me to factor in sustainability in addition to aid and guide the youth through their fashion career.
4) Where do you look for creative inspiration?
Truth be told, I don’t look for my inspiration; It comes to me when I least expect it. I do have a passion for travelling and exploring new places and soaking up new cultures, architecture and art in different locations that I visit and this is something that has always acted as a catalyst for my inspiration.
5) You have dressed so many celebrities for the red carpet, can you name a few?
I have dressed a great number of A listers on red carpets such as Carrie Underwood, Naomi Campbell, Kerry Washington, Beyonce, Eva Longoria, Helen Miren, Jennifer Lopez, Rachel Bilson and I have also enjoyed working with and dressing newer talent such as Instagram star Leonnie Hanne. Arab Celebrities are also so close to my heart such as Nancy Ajram and Rym Saidi to name a few.
6) Tell us about the Bridal Couture Collection that is coming to the US.
We take great pride in our WHITE line, our latest development in the ready to wear field. The line launched in 2020 after forecasting and experiencing a huge demand on ready bridal dresses that can be purchased online. It proved to be very successful in the Middle East and through enquiries from well established bridal retailers in the US, we expect this line to flourish in America.
7) What is your modern approach to designing a wedding dress today?
In principal it is still the same, every bride wants to be unique and different. What I have noticed in the past few years, brides are looking for a much clearer identity through their looks. Our brides are very knowledgable about fashion and their own style and their creative personality is much more present in their look.
8) Describe the concept of the WHITE collection.
WHITE is more than a just a collection, it is a concept fueled by real demand and a desire to change the status quo in fashion. Instilling new vision into the brand’s ethos, this move reinforces the brand’s commitment to produce forward-thinking fashion that prioritizes longevity and condemns overproduction.
