Etihad Launches First In-Flight Apparel Collection Designed By Emirati Designer At A Star-Studded Event At The Iconic Louvre Abu Dhabi

On the heels of their successful New York Fashion Week event last February, Etihad Airways and luxury online retailer Moda Operandi collaborated for a high-profile fashion event at The Louvre Abu Dhabi in support of the industry’s growth in the region. The star-studded event saw the launch of thestylish new exclusive loungewear line by Emirati brand, A Friend of Mine by Xpoze, which will be offered to the airline’s guests on all First-Class flights, as well as to guests staying in The Residence on board the Airbus A380 fleet.

The epic ‘Night at the Museum’ event was the first fashion event to ever take place at The Louvre Abu Dhabi, jointly hosted by Etihadand style icon and founder of Moda Operandi, Lauren Santo Domingo. The venue was dressed in an Arabesque style, with geometric rugs and design accents inspired by the UAE. A decadent dessert table beautifully lit by candlelight took centre stage. The event was attended by industry VIPs and global fashion authorities, including models Halima Aden and Eric Rutherford dressed in sleepwear-inspired evening chic.

The new loungewear is inspired by the simplicity, clean lines and timeless elegance of traditional Emirati dress, cleverly combined with current global trends, to create an aesthetic unique to Etihad. Simple, earthy colours have been used to ensure that the pieces in the collection complement all skin tones and can be easily matched with other items of clothing for everyday wear. Made of anti-bacterial and hypoallergenic Modal, the loungewear is free of unnecessary stitching and embellishments and is crease-resistant and breathable.

Linda Celestino, Etihad Airways Vice President Guest Experience and Delivery, explains “The innovative and striking designs follow the same attention to detail and design principles held by Etihad. The creations are high-quality, wearable on your flight for relaxing or sleeping, yet simple and stylish enough to be matched with other items of clothing for everyday wear. By doing so we also present our guests with a long-lasting and valuable memento of their experience with us. This is something uniquely Etihad and reinforces our position as the airline of innovation and choice.”

A Friend of Mine by Xpoze was founded by Rawdha Al Shaffar, Buthaina Al Marri and Fatma Al Muddhareb. In November 2017, the young Emirati brand was announced as the winner of a major competition launched by Etihad Airways to identify the best local talent to create the new designs. The competition drew almost 71,000 votes.