In stunning chartreuse, silver sequins, royal blue, delicate shades of soft and coral pink, and the prettiest embellished gathered waists, Wafa Saifi’s contemporary kaftans are incredibly graceful and fun, and I fell absolutely in love with them, merging the most beautiful eastern and western elements using chiffon, sheer georgette, crispy crepe and stunning sheeted sequences into a relaxed yet sophisticated line, and happily, Wafa has shared her story and inspiration with us!

1. You’ve lived in Dubai, Sri Lanka, New York, and come from an Indian background! How has your incredible diverse experience shaped your design and collections so far?

Its made me a really culturally aware person and I think that’s where a lot of my inspiration for the collections comes from. Its also made me a bit of a travel junkie! I currently live between Dubai, Singapore and Mumbai and I am constantly inspired by the people I come across and the beauty of it all. Which I think has culminated in a label that is a whimsical mix of Eastern and Western sensibilities.

2. How would you describe the typical Wafa Saifi girl?

I think she’s a quirky mix of Boho babe meets jet setter glam.  She owns her space and is not someone that is a slave to the trends.

3. What would your ideal project be?

Something that allows me to travel! Lol. Though on a more seriously note, I would love to do a limited addition collection for a store like Barneys or Colette.  Something where I could collaborate with another artist and produce a collection that actually helps support a charity like the ‘Global Fund for Women’ or ‘Give India’.  Fashion for a cause, that would be the ultimate project!

4. You’ve showed your collection at Miami fashion week in 2010, what was that like?

It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life!  It was the first time I showed a collection outside of India or Dubai so I was completely out of my comfort zone.  The strange thing is though, that I feel like thats where I found my true strength.  You are surrounded by all these unique talents and everything’s a buzz, you just feed off each others energy.

5. What are your thoughts on the future of fashion in the middle east and where it’s headed?

I think we are headed in the right direction! The Middle East is proving to be such an amazing market especially since people are willing to be more experimental now, its not all about the big brands anymore.  There’s new amazing labels popping up everyday because the market is hungry for fresh ideas.  Just one request to all the buyers out there, please support local talent! :)

{images: wafa seifi}