By Serene Serhan
In threes, twelve young women, in colorful attire, glided their way down the North Theater catwalk. The mystical music cloaked their every move, transporting Hana Sadeq's fashion show to a bygone age of fantasy and enchantment.
Sadeq's fashion show, coupled with the custom made music of composer Yihya Al Bushry, was more than a success; it was a magical experience.
An audience of more than three hundred watched, with mesmerized expressions, the extravagance of Sadeq's creations at the Jerash North Theater on Monday.
Elaborate detail merged with a kaleidoscope of colors for a full hour, bringing with them the applause and admiration of all who were there.
Traditional Arabic 'Tawbs,' sharply cut and intricately created were modeled by young women. First came the blues, then the reds, greens, browns; not a single color was left out.
Curvaceous shapes distinguished Sadeq's style from the old Abbasid syle, the source of her "inspiration," said the designer.
"I derived my inspiration from the Abbasid period," said the designer, sweating from either the heat or nervousness.
"A thousand years ago, women were more feminine than they are now. Colors were very important, and so were their accessories."
Sadeq got most of the silver accessories from different Arab designers, but all were in tune with the Abbasid period.
A big hit in the show, were the array of colorful, distinguished hats and headwear.
"The hats are beautiful. I have never seen such femininity and grace wrapped up into one," said one Sadeq fan, Inaya Mankou.
"I would definitely buy one of her outfits for some sort of cocktail or wedding," she added.
A Lebanese attendee, Marie Tabbara agreed saying that the "mixtures of color as well as the material were well chosen."
"The Tawbs are very feminine," she added "it would be wonderful to wear it for Ramadan or for a reception at our embassy."
"This was a magical night," she said.
Meanwhile Sadeq complained that Arabic attire is not as appreciated as it should be among Arab women.
"If you go into an Arab women's wardrobe, you will find not one sign of Arabism in their clothes. It is a sad fact," said the designer.
"I think that the closets of each and every Arab women should consist of at least five percent Arab clothing," she added.
Sadeq said that she "fully believes in my message and will fight for it as long as I live."
"I express my feelings through these dresses and will stick to my objective. My dresses (which sell for JoD200 to JoD2000) are my gift to Arabism," she said.
Moreover, the designer believes in the preservation of nature and does not use any petroleum-based fabrics.
"I use cottons, silks, raw silk and wool," she said. I will not use any products that would destroy our earth.
Sunday's exceptional fashion show marks Sadeq's fourth in the Jerash festival.
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
