A black abaya is a wardrobe staple for many a hijabi, and although abayas can be found cheaply here, it's the Gulf-based brands which are usually at the forefront of the more luxurious designs. Effa Al-Dabagh is a Saudi designer based in Dubai who launched her label
Effa Fashion back in 2006. She provides couture abayas, jalabiyas and evening dresses. I was recently sent an abaya (AB10-108) and matching hijab from their Fall/Winter 10/11 collection to review.
The abaya is made of two different fabrics. The main fabric is a silky crepe, with a draped centre panel made of a heavy, shiny jersey fabric, both of which are surprisingly lovely and cool to the touch. The most interesting thing about it is the unusual cut - it has pleats both front and back which gather together at the bottom. Looking at the picture, I thought that the abaya itself would be narrow around the feet, and difficult to walk in. But it's actually just the way the fabric hangs when worn, and the abaya is wide enough and comfortable to walk in.
There is a small panel in the centre with gold fabric and hand embroidery detailing. The hijab has matching embroidery on one end, but it's made of a chiffon crepe fabric and measures 210 x 60cm. Here's a close up of it:
The abaya is a slip-on design with no clasps and zips. The v-neck is a quite deep, and not easily covered by a hijab, so wearing a high-necked top underneath might be needed. This one is a free-size design, and although it fits me well, for someone very petite all the fabric could be quite overwhelming. It actually has two fabric ties attached to the inside at the waist, which can be pulled and tied to together to give the abaya more shape. In terms of length, Effa conveniently offer a free alteration service to tailor the abaya to your required height.
OverallThe abaya is distinctive in the cut, so great for formal events, but may be a bit plain for those wanting something with more colour or detailing. The fabric is really beautiful and clearly of high quality. I loved the gather design, but wasn't a fan of the large, billowing sleeves.
I'd also like to see more information about each abaya on the Effa website. Otherwise they offer a very attentive customer service and swift delivery via FedEx. This abaya does come with a £500 price tag, but if you're looking to treat yourself to something special, their range is worth checking out for an authentic Dubai designer piece. They are available either via the
Effa website, or
3abaya.com.
