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DUBAI: D Two, a Bahrain-based slow-fashion label, is building its identity around craftsmanship, natural fabrics and timeless design, according to the firm’s founder Fatima Dito.

Dito, whose background spans computer science, finance and arts, said the brand has already attracted clients in the UK, US, Belgium and beyond, with international growth becoming an important focus.

The designer explained that her path into fashion was not a shift but an extension of her professional life. “I do not see it as a transition, rather a parallel path that I have chosen for myself,” she told Arab News.

“Fashion design became that outlet of self-expression, an art form that simulates my creative soul much like music, and that’s how my journey with D Two began.”

With a focus on slow fashion, the label avoids overproduction and emphasizes quality and intention.

“From the beginning, I never wanted D Two to contribute to the cycle of overproduction we see in the fashion world today. Every detail matters, and nothing is rushed,” she explained.

Her collections feature a range of pieces including dresses, jumpsuits, tops, jackets and coordinated sets. Designed in shades including blush pink, denim blue, grey, white, beige, olive green and yellow, they reflect her emphasis on timeless versatility.

Among her standout pieces is The Solene Dress, originally created from two shirts through an upcycling project and later developed into a client favorite.

Her debut collection, “Aurum Rebirth,” which she said “will always be close to my heart,” reinterprets the geometric patterns of traditional Bahraini gold jewelry.

The brand’s growth has been supported by international recognition, including a Paris to Manama residency program at the Institut Francais de la Mode in Paris.

And a program by Bahrain Labour Fund Tamkeen in collaboration with +973 Artisanat Creative Entrepreneurs Incubator and delivered by French Fashion Institute ESMOD.

“Being awarded the Paris to Manama residency and spending a month at IFM in Paris was an unforgettable experience,” she said.

“Immersed in the capital of fashion, I gained insights from international professionals, explored fashion history, and absorbed the global perspective that shapes how I approach design.”

For the ESMOD program, she was selected from 30 Bahraini designers and later shortlisted among the top 15. “It was a proud milestone in my journey,” she said.

“What draws people to D Two globally is the connection they feel to the designs and the stories behind them,” Dito added.

“People today seek fashion that has a deep meaning behind its simple design. It should be authentic, meaningful, and ethical — and I believe this combination is what has built D Two’s international following.”

Looking ahead, Dito is working on a music-inspired collection for June 2026 as a part of the ESMOD Dubai x Tamkeen program, while also expanding the D Two Essentials line.

RIYADH: The northern city of Hail in �������� has been crafting a specific type of Arabic coffee pot known as the Quraishyyat for hundreds of years.

This distinctive vessel features a longer neck and a slimmer body than the typical receptacle, and was traditionally reserved only for special occasions.

“Al-Quraishyyat is a coffee pot made of green and yellow copper and has several names such as the palace coffee pot, the khateeb coffee pot, or Hail’s Quraishyyat,” Hamid Al-Dhuwaili, owner of Al-Dhuwaili Heritage Museum in Hail, told Arab News.

He explained that making such coffee pots had been part of the culture in Hail for hundreds of years, and added: “People have practiced this craft since ancient times, before the founding of the First Saudi State. There are well-known craftsmen in Hail who excel in this industry. Currently Hail is home to a coffee pot factory considered one of the best in the Middle East.”

While other handicrafts, including carving, tent making and weaving, are also native to Hail, it is its coffee pots that most visitors and tourists find attractive.

Thanks to its cool weather, rocky landscape and groundwater resources, Hail was one of the main stopping points for traveling merchants and migrants.

It was a resting point for travelers to feed their cattle, which fostered a culture of hospitality among the people of Hail. Coffee has been a significant part of that culture for centuries.

Along with the Quraishyyat, there are other kinds of coffee pots that are also prominent in the city, including the Baghdadiyyat, which is believed to have been introduced by travelers from the Iraqi capital.

Another variation is the Raslan, which consists of pots of different sizes. The Raslan is believed to have been brought to Hail through merchants from the Levant region.

The crafting of coffee pots in Hail has been significant throughout its history as a trading post, and remains so today as the tradition welcomes visitors from near and far.