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The final day of the Forbes Middle East Women’s Summit witnessed an engaging discussion on the fascinating links between fashion and luxury automotive. Panelists, including Saudi fashion designer Razan Al-Azzouni and Michelle Lusby, bespoke lead designer at Rolls-Royce, shed light on the convergence of design and fashion in the luxury car industry, attracting more women to explore these opulent showrooms.Moderated by Mariam Farag, a global keynote speaker and founder of Humanizing Brands, the discussion delved into the journeys of Al-Azzouni and Lusby, showcasing how their artistic backgrounds and passions shaped their careers in fashion and luxury automotive.Razan Al-Azzouni’s artistic journey began in college when she ventured into creating sculptures. However, the challenges of transporting her large and heavy sculptures across campus led her to experiment with paper-making. Discovering that paper could resemble fabric, she started transforming paper into disposable clothing, a unique fusion of art and fashion. Her disposable clothing fashion caught the attention of Vanity Fair, catapulting her passion into a successful business venture.A trailblazer in the fashion world, Al-Azzouni recently achieved another milestone by becoming the first Arab designer to collaborate with the renowned Walt Disney Company, curating a special collection inspired by Snow White.Michelle Lusby’s creative roots trace back to her family’s expertise in textile design. As a young child, she watched her grandmother hand-sew handbags, inspiring her with the beauty of transforming raw materials into exquisite objects. Her passion for textiles and surface design eventually led her to work with Rolls-Royce in bespoke customization.In the world of luxury automotive, bespoke entails taking an already luxurious Rolls-Royce vehicle and customizing it to reflect the client’s personality. Working closely with clients in Dubai, Lusby strives to enhance the narrative of each vehicle through carefully curated colors, materials, and designs. Her work aims to inspire clients to pursue something exceptional and showcase their unique personalities through their personalized Rolls-Royce.Lusby’s journey into luxury automotive was a result of her experiences with product design brands. Rolls-Royce offered her the opportunity to work in bespoke, serving as a perfect segue between the fashion world and interior design.Throughout the discussion, the panelists emphasized the intersection of design, fashion, and luxury automotive, breaking conventional barriers and opening new avenues for women in these industries. By infusing artistic expressions and personal touches into luxury cars, they are creating art on wheels and turning these vehicles into more than just modes of transportation.The inclusion of women’s perspectives and talents in the design and creative processes of luxury cars adds a fresh dimension to the automotive world. The stories of Razan Al-Azzouni and Michelle Lusby serve as powerful inspirations for women seeking to leave their mark on both the fashion and luxury automotive industries.As women continue to reshape the narratives of design and luxury, their influence will undoubtedly contribute to a more diverse, innovative, and dynamic landscape, driving the luxury automotive industry into a bright and exciting future.
