Everything You Need to Know About MARAM's Custom Saint Levant Look

Maram Aboul Enein, the Egyptian visionary behind the eponymous ready-to-wear brand, was recently tasked with creating a custom-made ensemble for the Palestinian-Algerian artist Saint Levant, for his highly-anticipated performance in D-bay on the North Coast over the past weekend.

THE CREATIVE PROCESS 

In a collaborative effort with the styling team Muna and Aisha from Tintein Studio, Aboul Enein worked closely with the duo on a very tight timeline, leaving no room for error. “It was a really beautiful moment of Arab creatives coming together from across the globe to create a unified vision,” she tells Scene Styled.

“There’s nothing more important in the Arab world right now than that sense of unity,” Aboul Enein adds. “Saint Levant was adamant about collaborating with an Egyptian designer for his North Coast performance. We aimed to honour his identity through this look.”

“It was important to stay true to Saint Levant's personal style and respect his preferences and input,” Aboul Enein noted, highlighting the artist’s involvement in the design process. “He was very involved in the design decision-making and even added personal styling touches, like wearing Bedouin-inspired kohl.”

THE INSPIRATION BEHIND RED & BEDOUIN

“Saint Levant requested a full-red monochromatic look as it’s his favourite colour, so we used that as the foundation,” the designer revealed. “Red is one of the most powerful colours to wear but can go wrong very easily,” Aboul Enein shares. This led her to opt for a clean approach, playing with micro-textures and the silhouette.

The look seamlessly blended elements of contemporary fashion, like the pant cut, scarf-belt, and distressed raw edges, with cultural Bedouin references. “We were inspired by the breezy, free-spirited aura of Bedouin attire and aimed for the outfit to reflect that inherent desert effortlessness,” she says.

PERFORMANCE-READY DESIGN

For this look, technical work was just as crucial as aesthetics. “Our main focus above everything else was the fit. Creating a tailored trouser that will be worn while performing and seen from a 360-degree angle has to fit impeccably,” Aboul Enein emphasises.

“The second focus was comfort and performance, ensuring he felt completely comfortable moving in the look and that the materials used were heat and sweat-resistant.” To achieve this, the design team experimented with different proportions and cuts to determine which silhouette made Saint Levant feel his best.

THE REACTION

“I remember that first fitting—I was so nervous!” Aboul Enein admits. “Our pattern maker travelled with the prototypes to meet him, and we were all on a video call, holding our breath until he tried the look.” Fortunately, the ensemble fit Saint Levant perfectly on the first try, and he fell in love with it immediately. “He was so enthusiastic and happy, seeing the look come to life and embody his energy on stage.”