June, 8th, 2013

Dubai | NATHALIE TRAD | Earth. Wind. Fire. Clutches..

Born in Beirut and raised in Dubai, Nathalie Trad developed a strong penchant for asymmetric designs – which today forms the basis of her eponymous line – whilst earning a BA from Paris’ ESMOD International. It was then, in 2007, that she discovered her personal design ethos: to take classic shapes – ubiquitous in our natural environment – and radically transform them, deconstructing and redefining the boundaries of fashion aesthetics.

In 2008, Trad relocated to New York to further pursue this vision. There, she obtained a BBA in Design and Management from Parsons The New School for Design and worked under the mentorship of an industry-leading accessories designer at Proenza Schouler.

Trad’s time spent in two fashion capitals – Paris and New York – coupled with the expertise gained through her degrees and her quest to reexamine the foundations of traditional accessory design, helped her forge a unique signature style early on, laying the foundation for her 2013 inaugural collection.

Earth tones and sinuous lines pervade Nathalie Trad’s debut collection of handbags and accessories.

The range – spanning leather handbags, shell clutches and necklaces – is punctuated by chiseled contours, geometric structures and sharp contrasts in color, texture and pattern.

The designs draw heavily from nature’s complex forms and the ever-unfolding possibilities within it. More specifically, the cutting-edge pieces are a result of a creative outpouring triggered by Albertus Seba’s book of illustrations, Cabinet of Natural Curiosities. In rather serendipitous fashion, Trad came across the publication for the first time – in New York – two years ago while in pursuit of inspiration.

Considered one of the 18th century’s greatest natural history achievements, the book features images of a slew of animals and plants drawn by illustrators. It was precisely the section showcasing a plethora of insects – and the intricate kaleidoscope of colors on their carcasses – that served as an underlying theme for Trad’s first collection, setting it starkly apart and giving it a truly contemporary edge.