The collaboration between Marina Rinaldi and Dima Ayad is a seamless fusion of the brand’s timeless style and Dima Ayad’s unique artistic sensibilities. Dima Ayad, a loyal customer of Marina Rinaldi, was introduced to the brand through her grandmother and mother, who frequented the boutique. The collaboration came about when the London office reached out to Dima Ayad, and the collection took shape.
Dima Ayad’s star piece from this collection is an evening blazer, inspired by her admiration for the impeccable fit and enduring appeal of Marina Rinaldi’s blazers. The collaboration allowed her to combine her design vision with the brand’s unmatched craftsmanship, and she was actively involved in the design process, even providing input on fabric preferences.
One of the challenges faced during this project was adapting to the larger scale of Marina Rinaldi’s operations compared to Dima Ayad’s atelier. However, it was not seen as a challenge but rather a valuable learning experience, allowing Dima Ayad to refine her understanding of intricate details. She made multiple trips to oversee the samples and made necessary adjustments along the way.
Dima Ayad expressed her frustration with the overuse of the words “inclusive” and “diverse” on social media platforms, especially by prominent brands that fail to stock sizes that cater to everyone. She emphasized the importance of genuine inclusivity and not just feigning commitment for the sake of appearances.
Dima Ayad’s imagination is fueled by her emotional state and the textures of the fabrics she works with. She finds that her creativity surfaces in moments of darkness and takes on an unconventional artistic expression in moments of happiness. She has produced some of her most exceptional work during periods of sadness, finding solace in isolation and limiting her travels.
To women suffering from eating disorders, Dima Ayad emphasizes the importance of questioning the distorted perception of body image. She shares her own experience of facing pressure to conform to a specific weight standard and the media’s promotion of unhealthy practices. She encourages women to take a step back and contemplate the essence of life beyond physical size, emphasizing that life holds profound depths that transcend superficial markers.