Dima Kassis, the creative mind behind fashion brand Dough, recently launched her Spring Summer 2014 collection. The background story of this collection sparked my interest; the influence of the Moors on Spanish fashion. The Moors were medieval Muslim inhabitants from North Africa and most of Spain used to be part of their territory. Their influence is still visible today. An example of architectural influence is Al Hambra, a palace and fortress located in Granada. A beautiful example of Islamic architecture in Spain. The Al Hambra also includes a Roman/Catholic palace that was built inside of the fortress. An interesting mix of east and west, architecture wise. A musical example of Moor influences is Spanish group Radio Tarifa, the group combines Flamenco, Arab-Andalusian and Moorish music styles together.
I think it is a very interesting move from Dough designer Dima Kassis to translate the influences of the Moors on Spanish culture and fashion to a contemporary fashion collection. Dima explains; ‘The Moors, originating in Africa – particularly Morocco, in their attempt to conquer Spain and turn the country Islamic, left a significant influence on Spanish fashion’. A cultural mixing pot, where east and west comes together and different religions meet.
For this collection, Dima Kassis put the emphasis on capes, a key fashion piece made famous by Spain and its Moor influence. Voluminous garments and structured silhouettes take center stage. Dima also designed a collection of dramatic accessories to go with this collection. Bold, dramatic pieces worked in different shades of bronze, gold metal and Swarovski crystals to complete the look. The color palette gives it a Mediterranean vibe, white and beige are most present. I like how some of the dresses from this collection go with different interpretations of the ‘traditional’ cape, it is very creative. This collection is very minimalistic and the accessories really complement the looks. I think some will find it hard to spot the influences of Moorish and Spanish culture due to the minimalistic nature of this collection, but it takes some background knowledge to understand the idea behind it, it is very subtle. Make sure you check out the gallery for some of our favorites from this collection.
For more information about this brand visit: doughcollection.com
