Spanish Brand Flabelus Finds Its Footing in Cairo
After hosting a quiet dinner in Downtown Cairo's Mazeej, Flabelus is beginning to find its footing in the region.
Apr 17, 2025
Flabelus doesn't overexplain itself. Founded in Spain in 2020, the footwear label has built its language through velvet Mary Janes, structured espadrilles, and silhouettes that feel borrowed from a bookshelf rather than a trend cycle. Each pair is named after a literary character. Each one feels like it belongs to someone with taste and time.
This year, that language reached Cairo. The brand hosted a dinner at Mazeej - intimate, precise, and curated with the right crowd in mind. The shoes sat alongside conversation, surrounded by people who read context as fluently as they do form.
In a video interview with SceneStyled, Pilar Oraá, the brand's PR and communications lead, spoke about the brand's evolving relationship with the Middle East and how Flabelus is looking to be part of the region's long-term creative ecosystem.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CairoScene
2 days ago
- CairoScene
SPOTLIGHT: Saudi Bags Label Dania Shinkar Delivers Playful Luxury
Dania Shinkar's bags don't just hold your essentials - they also hold attention. The Brand Sculptural, playful, and precise, Dania Shinkar's bags sit somewhere between accessory and object. With Saudi roots, Italian production, and an Irish HQ, the label is geographically unbound - but its identity is distinct. The Design Language Bold curves, clever details, and a measured dose of drama define the collection. The Mini Gaga and Mila bags, with their spherical handles, could easily pass as modern sculpture. The Dana bag plays with perspective, using a double-frame illusion to trick the eye - a quiet design sleight of hand that happens to be Shinkar's personal favourite. The Mila, slouchy and jewelled, has all the presence of a protagonist. Dania Shinkar in Three Words 'Contemporary, nostalgic, and sustainable,' says Dania Shinkar, founder and creative director. The Founder Shinkar holds both a BA and MA from the London College of Fashion. Her interest in design was sparked early, watching her mother dress for special occasions. 'I was fascinated by how she paired her accessories and curated every detail of her look,' she says. That early instinct matured into a design philosophy rooted in experimentation. 'There are no rules in fashion' is the lesson she carried from London, and it shows. Her work leans into texture, form, and silhouette - unafraid of unexpected embellishments or vintage references. The Muse Saudi culture is central to Shinkar's design lens. She draws inspiration from Jeddah's Al Balad district, the coral reefs of the Red Sea, and antique jewellery. 'Architecture informs my shapes, while art influences my use of colour,' she tells SceneStyled. Her bags may echo heritage, but their execution is unmistakably contemporary - thanks to the precision of Italian artisans, whom she calls the 'undisputed masters of leather goods.' 'I love revisiting classic silhouettes and giving them new context,' she adds. Her reimaginings of the '90s baguette and hobo bag offer a quiet nod to nostalgia, made current through detail and structure. The Craft Shinkar's work is detail-driven, right down to her choice of materials. She combines silky satin and structured Italian leather with crystal embellishments and vintage-inspired hardware. Everything is intentional: the curved handles, the metal closures, the colour palette that moves from caramel neutrals to pastel blush to deep, metallic red. Even her sustainability practices feel specific. She uses ethically sourced leather and eco-conscious acetate, repurposing leftover scraps into sleek cardholders. The Process 'Playful luxury' is how she frames her work - serious craftsmanship with room for joy. Ideas come quickly. 'Sometimes I see a design so clearly, I have to sketch it on the spot,' she says. From there, it's about refining proportions, prototyping with 3D paper models, and iterating until the final product holds. 'I'm always thinking about the person who'll carry it - how it feels in their hands, how it fits into their life.' If she had to imagine her bags on anyone, it would be Carrie Bradshaw. And if you're styling one? 'Let the bag lead,' she says. Whether worn against head-to-toe neutrals or thrown over something oversized and undone, the goal is to give it room to speak. The Verdict Dania Shinkar's bags don't shout - but they don't need to. With a language of their own, they balance nostalgia and modernity, fun and form. They look just as at home at a gallery opening as they do on a brunch banquette - or simply sitting still on a side table, catching the light.
CairoScene
17-05-2025
- CairoScene
The Scene Styled Rock ‘n' Roll Edit
Leather jackets, ripped denim, and chains for days, this is your guide to in-your-face grunge glamour… What does it mean to look like rock 'n' roll? It's not about following trends but about defying them – it's rebellion, attitude, and grit woven into every stitch. This week's SceneStyled Rock 'n' Roll Edit pulls together the key elements to channel that raw, defiant energy. Leather jackets with tough, lived-in appeal, ripped jeans that look like they've survived a few mosh pits, and studded accessories that clash with the polished as if to say, 'rules were meant to be broken.' It's a wardrobe for the bold, for those who know that music and style are two sides of the same revolution. Ready to rock? Keep scrolling. Maram | The Aqua Harmony Slit T-Shirt Maram's Cycle 11 collection did not shy away from excess, and the Aqua Harmony t-shirt is no exception. A psychedelic dream, this piece will turn heads amongst even the 'rockest' of concerts. Rasha Pasha | The Royal Rock Collection 'It's like if Tina Turner married Khedive Ismail,' Rasha Pasha tells SceneStyled. Bringing the best of both worlds together, the Egyptian designer's Royal Rock collection does not shy away from making a statement on Cairo's streets. Nabi | Meraki Belt 'Nabi is for a modern hot girl, who is anything but basic,' designer Hana Gad tells SceneStyled. Merging western-style cowboy belts with a touch of Egyptian influence, Egyptian label Nabi's Meraki Belt is grunge…but heritage-driven. FTL | Oracle Pants High-profile client meeting at 5 and a pre-game at 5:49? Egyptian label FTL's Oracle Pants know what you're up to…and they're all for it. Arc Pulse | Minimalist Bumper Case Actually giving a damn about your phone screen cracking is so 2017 - the real 'baddhies' know that it's all about fashion over function. Dior | Vernis Nail Polish For a decked-out Rock n Roll fit, you simply cannot go without some statement red nail polish. Kuckian | Deleterious Causing a ruckus? Starting a fire? Oh how very deleterious of you. Kuckian's signature black lipstick is not for the demure, but that's not you. Huda Beauty | Pretty Grunge Eyeshadow Palette Nothing says grunge quite like some glittering purple eyeliner - and Huda Beauty has the fix. Vivienne Westwood | Side Panther Skirt In an alternate universe in which the UK had a Princess of Wales who didn't want the crown, we'd be willing to bet the Paps would catch her in this. Alexander McQueen | Double Breasted Waist Coat Business in the front, party in the back, Alexander McQueen's double breasted waist coat is all about contrast; blacks and reds; rock n roll. New Rock | Ankle Boot Black Imperfect The streets are your stage, and this is how you stomp them. New Rock's 'imperfect' - though wholly perfect - ankle boots will have you walking sky high, making sure everyone can see you. Andertons | Rock N Roll Relics Lightning Custom Medium Aged in Cadillac Green Sparkle Can't be a rock edit without something to actually rock out with. In glittering emerald, this vintage electric guitar will be making all sorts of noise. Vera Wang | Rock Princess Eau de Toilette While the bottle does look quite intimidating; its notes are as sweet as can be, with peach, jasmine, and vanilla. Be Indie | The Jacquard Set Canadian tuxedo, but just a little edgy. Versatile and comfortable, this set from Be Indie effortlessly swings from daytime to after-hours. Rigash | The Brown Leather Set Now, we couldn't do this without some leather, could we? For their FW25 collection, Egyptian label Rigash went all out with leather, and we're obsessed with this set in particular. Viva Vox | Viva Vox Skirt Florals for a Rock 'n' Roll edit?! We know what you're thinking, but hear us out. Paired with a leather jacket, spiked boots, and black lips, this will be a 'lewk' you won't be allowed to forget. Emergency Room Beirut | Golden (R)age Collection For their latest collection, Lebanese collective and design house Emergency Room Beirut triggered all the sirens. Reminiscent of wild '70s vegas nights, this collection is for those not afraid of standing out. Vivienne Westwood | New Diamante Heart Pendant Necklace A signature of the eponymous English fashion house, the heart pendant is a rebellious Vivienne Westwood classic for a reason, and it would border on blasphemy not to include it. Hadia Ghaleb | Nebula Sunglasses in Black A little out of this world, Dubai-based Egyptian entrepreneur Hadia Ghaleb's sunglasses collection, which debuted in 2024, is all about non-conformist silhouettes. Hérmes | Limited Edition Birkin Rock 25 Black Volupto Palladium Hardware Sure it might be USD 75,000, but it's pretty to just look at. Amongst the hottest Birkin bags you could come across, the Limited Edition Rock 25 earns its spot on this edit for obvious reasons. Christian Louboutin | Paloma Spiked Leather Clutch Can't truly be Rock 'n' Roll without a few (or a lot) of spikes on your person. Christian Louboutin? Understood the assignment. Azalea Wang | Sedna Buckle Knee Boots in Black A 'belts' and whistles kinda gal? Azalea Wang's Sedna Buckle Knee Boots let everyone know you're armed and ready; lest they, how do we put this, 'try a b****'.
CairoScene
20-04-2025
- CairoScene
Zina Louhaichy Honours Moroccan Heritage In a Bold New Visual Project
Zina Louhaichy Honours Moroccan Heritage In a Bold New Visual Project As a Moroccan woman born and raised in NYC, artist and designer Zina Louhaichy has always existed at a cultural crossroads, belonging to both and neither at the same time. Her latest body of work isn't merely an exploration of heritage - it's a reclamation of identity, and a visual love letter to all the women who came before her. In BLADI (بلادي) - Arabic for 'my homeland' - Louhaichy embarks on an intimate journey through self-portraiture. Inspired by early 20th century Moroccan postcards, many of which were shot through a colonial lens, the project reclaims those once-exoticised images by placing the narrative - and the camera - in Louhaichy's own hands. 'Some of these women I've only met through photographs,' Louhaichy tells SceneStyled. 'But they all live in my blood.' In the photographs, Louhaichy dresses in heirloom pieces that connect her to her family's past: her father's Qur'an, a takchita reminiscent of her great-grandmother's wardrobe, and jewellery rich with ancestral memory. She wears her identity on her sleeve - and on her hands: the Moroccan star inked in henna on one, and the iconic Yankees logo on the other. This is a merging of worlds, of culture, and of eras, fused together on the camera lens. The result is not only visually striking, but evocative: a celebration of Moroccan womanhood rendered with a genuine authenticity, creativity, and deep reverence. The project continues with Diaspora Passport (جواز سفر الشتات), a conceptual expansion of BLADI which finds definition in that liminal space between Morocco and New York. Creating a fictional passport, Louhaichy reimagines bureaucratic instruments of identity not as restrictive labels but as vehicles of empowerment. Here, the passport becomes a symbol of movement and belonging unbound by national borders and monolithic identities. 'Home for me exists in a Yankees symbol,' Louhaichy shares. 'In Casablanca at sunrise when the streets are quiet and the call to prayer echoes through the city. It's sitting with my Meema for hours, working on my Darija, exhausted from messing up too many times but persevering anyway.' Maximalist and vibrant, the visual language of the project is unapologetically assured. Wearing a custom Yankee brim, redesigned in Moroccan red and green by Opiyel, and the Noire Lace Bele top from her eponymous label Louhaichy (لوحيشي), a confident Zina carves out her identity in clear, bold lines. On the back of her one hand, a henna 'passport stamp' reads "المغرب" ('Morocco'), adorned with Amazigh symbols. On the other hand, stamps of both the US and Morocco mark the emotional cartography of her soul. In this body of work, Zina Louhaichy transcends the borders that once fragmented her sense of self, forging a space where heritage and hybridity coexist. It's a powerful act of healing - one that redefines home not as a place but a feeling, a symbol, an expression, and ultimately, a portrait.
