3D flowers, embroidered corsets and the scent of oudh: Inside Karleo’s couture preview in Dubai

“Couture needs to be felt right from the moment you enter,” Karan Berry, creative director of Karleo, told Vogue India, “It needs to be presented in a certain way, and sensed before it’s seen.” At Karleo’s intimate couture preview of their latest collection in Dubai, curated by bridal stylist Couture with Christina, and in partnership with the Vogue Wedding Atelier, that ideal bloomed remarkably. Karan Berry and Leon Vaz, co-founders of Karleo, are ambassadors for the Vogue Wedding Atelier, a celebration of fine artistry and culture taking place in New Delhi, from August 8-10 at The Taj Palace.

Hannah Patsimo

At the showcase, guests were greeted with the soft cadence of a piano and the grounding, smoky scent of oudh. A private villa filled with scattered masterpieces set the tone for a breathtaking experience. The collection, titled Blooms of the World, is a love letter to flowers, with each piece inspired by a different flower like Japan’s delicate sakura, South Africa’s striking protea or India’s sacred lotus.

At the heart of Karleo’s design philosophy is love for duality, which shone through this endeavour. “It’s all very soft, dainty, delicate, yet bold. Like with everything else that we do at Karleo, we aimed to create magic from the mundane. And with every texture, every beat, that’s exactly where we ended up,” revealed Berry. Cut from fabrics like silk, tulle, duchess satin and crepe, Blooms of the World evolves seamlessly from evening wear with tea-length gowns, skirts and beaded corsets to bridal wear with a train and cape. “To see that kind of harmony come about as the collection progressed was beautiful for us,” shared Berry.