Melkyana’s New Swimwear Drop Is All Va-Va-Voom and Zero Apologies

“Paroles, paroles…” The iconic Dalida song is about romantic disillusionment. But for Egyptian designer Malak Nahass, founder of Melkyana, a UAE-based swimwear label, it’s about something else: society’s noise. “That’s what the collection seeks to outshine,” Nahas tells SceneStyled.

Founded in 2022 by Malak Nahass, Melkyana (- my own ملكي أنا) has become known for its versatile hybrid swimwear, designed to transition effortlessly from beachwear to city attire. Signature pieces include the "tassel bikini," inspired by the Egyptian belly dancer's costume.

In the new summer 2025 collection, the palette alone speaks volumes: champagne and flame red, unapologetically bold, lit from within. “These colours assert dominance,” Nahass tells Scene Styled. “They stand out.” The fabrics are Italian carvico, leather-like in their texture and unlike anything the eye expects. They glisten under sunlight, cling where needed, and fall away where freedom is essential. They cinch the waist without restricting movement.

If Melkyana’s first two collections were sisters in dialogue, refining the hybrid silhouette that defines the brand, this one feels like the confident third. “The fabric is playful but strong,” Nahass says. “It feels different to the eye, and different on the skin.” Each piece, 60% of it handmade, is a masterclass in detail: twist elements, sculptural seams.

But for Malak Nahas, Melkyana has never really been about just swimwear. “The Western world still has a very backward idea of Arab women,” she says. “They don’t see who we are now.” With this collection, she confronts that perceived blindness, offering up pieces that are sensual, sharp, and deeply modern. “The magic of Melkyana lies in its in-between. It hits the sweet spot of covered and uncovered.”

Nahas doesn’t believe in styling rules, only instincts. “Feel yourself when you throw it on,” she says, and you understand instantly that these garments are less about what they look like, and more about what they feel like. Confidence, clarity, a refusal to shrink. “Layer them with an oversized shirt, wear them alone into the sea, what matters is how they move with you, not around you.”

As the brand continues to grow, Melkyana’s future is firmly in sight. “We want to be in more retail stores soon,” she says. With Paroles Paroles, Nahass rejects and outdresses the noise.