Following London Fashion Week in February, I was lucky to relax for a few days on the Persian Gulf coast in Dubai. While Tweeting about my first adventure in the Middle East, I received a message from a Bahraini fashion brand, Noon By Noor, inviting me to their fashion show during Bahrain Fashion Week in early March. Alas, I could not make the trip to Bahrain, but I was intrigued by Shaikha Noor Al Khalifa and Shaikha Haya Al Khalifa, the talented duo behind the brand–who, incidentally, studied fashion design in Washington, D.C. It was inspiring that, despite the turmoil going on at the time in Bahrain, these two young women were continuing their business activities and doing their part to put Bahrain’s growing fashion industry on the global radar.

Since I couldn’t attend the show, the designers answered a few of my questions via email–and someday, I hope to meet them in person at a fashion week.

Samantha On Style (SOS): How did you start your careers in fashion?

Noon By Noor (NBN): We began our journey, together, when we made a move from the Middle East to the United States to study fashion design in Washington DC. From our very first exposure to the program, we realized that we wanted to be involved in every step of the fashion design process, from concept to final product. The decision to launch the luxury high-end clothing line, Noon By Noor, came shortly after.

SOS: What inspires you in the design process? In particular, for your latest collection? Are there any stand-out items you most want to draw my attention to?

NBN: We draw our inspirations from traditional Arabian styles, but we add a touch of modernity by using luxurious textiles and dazzling embellishments from all over the world. In our current collection, we use an assortment of soft jerseys, opulent silks, and rich satins, which really make the line standout.

LOOK #1: cotton shirt with metallic effect, beige harem pants, and decorative headband with crystal embellishments

LOOK #2: body-elongating jumpsuit in opulent, jewel-toned silk, with crystal embellishments

SOS: What type of woman do you design for?

NBN: We design for the modern sophisticated woman who is confident, independent, multicultural, and daring with her style. She appreciates unique textiles, intricate details, and distinctive cuts.

SOS: What is your most prized possession in your closet?

Noor: For me, it would definitely be my Hermes Birkin Bag.

Haya: And for me, my most prized possession would be my Classic Chanel Bag.

SOS: What is most unique about fashion in Bahrain? What would you like people to know about fashion in Bahrain or the fashion industry in Bahrain?

NBN: Fashion in Bahrain is unique because it represents every point in the fashion spectrum. Through simple observation of Bahrain’s society, you’ll notice people draped in traditional garments, while others sport the latest looks off the runway. For us, we wanted to design a contemporary line for the woman of today, while paying tribute to our Bahraini heritage. In order to do this, we envisioned classic Arabic patterns, such as traditional harem pants, while leaving a timeless imprint on each one of our creations.

SOS: Anything else you’d like to share?

NBN: We are also very proud to have our base in the Seef District of Bahrain, along with many other emerging companies. We hope that Noon by Noor will ultimately help Bahrain be recognized on the “fashion map” and promote the creativity of the country.

I love the Noon By Noor aesthetic, which mixes the elegance of Washington with the exoticness of the Arabian Peninsula. Until I can see their designs in person, I’ll be stalking their website, where they hope to launch an online boutique by June. I expect we’ll see much more from Noor and Haya, both in the Middle East and beyond.