Renowned haute couture fashion designer, Yehya Al Bishri, has designed a unique collection of uniforms for staff at the newly opened Rosewood Corniche in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
In a world first for a luxury hotel, Al Bishri agreed to the challenge when he visited the Rosewood Corniche and appreciated the unique fusion of modern interior design and Islamic sense of place which is a feature throughout the hotel.
“It was so refreshing to see a new building which is sympathetic to the historical context of Saudi Arabia,” he said. “The hotel is modern and contemporary but there are examples of Islamic art in the reception, in the rooms and the restaurants. I love that they have created something beautiful from the Saudi culture.”
The concept of designing the uniforms for all the hotel staff, from housekeepers, to butlers, to management, was a challenge for Al Bishri, who has designed uniforms for foreign immigration and the military college, but is far more used to receiving individual briefs from the Saudi Royal family, HRH The Prince of Wales and creating haute couture designs for the catwalk.
“The biggest challenge for me was keeping a consistency, but also being considerate to the needs of the staff. I wanted to create a theme and harmony, but give each uniform its individuality. I knew that the uniforms needed to be comfortable yet stylish and suitable to wear every day.
“My favourite uniform is the butler. I wanted to achieve something different, which requires taking certain risks. The hotel loved it when they saw it and I have received the most compliments about it,” said Al Bishri.
The collaboration between the hotel and fashion designer is a first in the Gulf region. “We wanted to create a sense of style and pride in appearance at the Rosewood Corniche,” said Hans-Peter Leitzke, Managing Director at the hotel.
“Yehya has conveyed the essence of the hotel – style, modernity and elegance with a twist of culture. You can see the difference in the way staff interact when they wear their uniform, that they feel unique and special. We are honoured to have Yehya as part of the Rosewood Corniche family and thrilled to be able to use such a talented and home-grown designer,” he added.
The Rosewood Corniche opened earlier this month, providing business and leisure travellers in Saudi Arabia a stunning new luxury hotel choice. The hotel offers guests new levels of personalised service and features the country’s first dedicated Ladies’ Floor, which is reserved exclusively for female travellers.
For more information on Rosewood Corniche or any other Rosewood Hotel and Resort please visit www.rosewoodhotels.com
