Maison Sara Chraibi AW25

The drizzle of London couldn’t dampen the celestial glow of Maison Sara Chraibi’s AW25 collection, "The Heavens", unveiled at London Fashion Week. As a fixture at London Fashion Week, I’ve seen my share of theatrics, but Chraibi’s haute couture was a masterclass in blending North African heritage with cosmic elegance.

Chraibi, one of only two North African designers on the LFW schedule (whose work was more well suited for the Paris Haute Couture Week schedule), drew from the very air around us; fluffy clouds, midnight skies, and starlight. Her signature fusion of Moroccan modesty and European glamour shimmered through. Ethereally translucent organza coats draped over silk skirts and beaded constellations trailed down gowns like falling stars.

The details demanded a closer look (as couture should). A cape embroidered with cloud motifs floated down the runway, while velvet gowns in midnight blue clung like the night itself. Petals framed models’ faces like halos, and shredded metallic fabrics caught the light like a twilight horizon. Chraibi’s architectural training, yes, she studied architecture before fashion, shone in the precision of each drape.

London’s crowd, usually a mix of armor-clad eccentrics (Burberry, I’m looking at you) and influencers, fell silent as the finale swept past, a kaftan reimagined in silver brocade, beaded with “Mashallah” in Berber script. It was a reminder of Chraibi’s mission, to prove that modest wear is neither limiting nor niche, but universally chic. This is why couture matters. Chraibi didn’t just design clothes, she bottled the sky.