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Madam Abla designs
for many dancers in Cairo
and also for many foreign dancers. Leila Haddad often buys costumes
from her. Madam Ablas name is synonymous with quality and she has a
very classic look to her designs. She has a good understanding of the
female form and her designs are always flattering, very feminine and a
delight to wear. Madam Abla has a beautiful smile!
Shaima, Madam Abla's
daughter, has just finished college and is starting to work with her
mother. Shaima speaks good English which is very useful when
negotiating prices!
Below is an article
written by Kay, published in Mosaic April 06.
Madam Abla
By Kay Taylor
Madam Abla – the name
is synonymous with top quality costumes. Hers was the first name I
heard again & again when I started dancing. To own an ‘Abla’ was to
have something special. When I started importing costumes, I went for
the best & bought from Abla. I always take groups there and am
constantly impressed by what a good eye she has for designs that
flatter. She makes larger women look magnificent and for those less
endowed women, creates curves & a feminine look.
So many newcomers have
appeared on the scene in the costume making business that it must be
difficult to keep ahead. Fashions change, designers come & go yet Abla
stays. She has not been in good health over the last few years &
recently had a knee operation which has been problematic. Abla is an
iconic figure in the costume making business & I wanted to interview her
about her thoughts on it.
Abla married into the
business. Her husband & his sister were already established. It is now
43 years since Abla joined though she says she has always loved sewing &
designing. She is inspired by many things: Theatre, TV or current
fashion. Sometimes ideas just come to her. Abla describes her style as
Sharki or Oriental – she loves the floating feel of chiffon – the style
of the bygone golden era. Talking about this on one visit, she stood
and lifted the hem of her galabaya and, with a wistful smile, started
moving around the room. It was as if she were there in yard of chiffon,
dancing with Samia Gamal!
Abla has designed for
many ‘names’: Soheir Zeki, Nagwa Fouad, Mona Said & Fifi Abdou. She
has high praise for Nagwa Fouad – a true artiste in her opinion with big
shows into which a lot of thought and planning had gone. They would
discuss costumes together and come up with ideas which Abla would
implement. She stresses that the workmanship had to be good for the
costumes to last night after night, show after show. One story Abla
tells me with a smile, is of a dancer who brought a costume back to have
the bra re-lined. She had brought it 15 years previously and it was
still going strong – built to last!
We talked of fashion
and Abla commented on how it changes with each generation. With her
gentle smile, she harkened back to the 40’s & 50’s when royalty existed,
the era of Samia Gamal and Tahia Cariocca. The styles were flowing &
elegant, the women dressed immaculately whether to walk down the street
in everyday clothes or when performing on stage. Now, she commented,
everything is very casual: mini skirts and jeans. You get the feeling
she doesn’t approve.
In many ways Abla is
old fashioned in her approach – yet if you want a classic design, go to
Abla – she does them best. She now designs for Horatio & Beata,
Josephine Wise, Leila Haddad and made the signature red and silver
dresses for the Tarab Dance Company. In this new world of minimalism
and lycra, Madam Abla loves her rope beading, chiffon and fringing. It
is her trademark. You can tell an ‘Abla’, they are so distinctive. As
a dancer, her designs are reassuringly solid yet elegant & flowing. It
is lovely to see her working with her daughters but, and they would
agree, Abla is the one with flair and imagination. After 43 years in
the business, she has made a lasting impression on the costuming of
dancers in Cairo.
Madam Abla passed away
during Eid this year. Our condolences go to her daughters and family.
She was a great and good woman who will be sorely missed.
Kay Jan 2007.
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