TOMORROW: Pallavi Puri makes her Dubai Fashion Week Debut with Beyond Borders
By Hermoine Macura-Noble
Special to The Times Kuwait
Dubai-based Fashion Designer will step onto the Dubai Fashion Week runway for the first time tomorrow unveiling her new collection, Beyond Borders, at the Spring/Summer 2027 edition of the region’s most anticipated fashion moment. Opening the show will be Indian supermodel and showstopper Lisa Haydon, while Lebanese Actress and Singer Cyrine Abdel Nour will also close the evening in a showstopper gown as well.
A name long associated with heritage craftsmanship and contemporary ease, Puri brings her signature approach to the Dubai Design District (d3) stage with a debut that marks a landmark moment for the label.
More than a collection, Beyond Borders is a statement of intent. Conceived as a celebration of fashion unbound by geography or convention, it brings together influences from across cultures in a fearless expression of elegance, rooted in the Indian heritage and craftsmanship that have defined the Pallavi Puri label since its beginning.
“With Beyond Borders, I wanted to celebrate fashion without limits – where cultures, creativity and individuality come together in a fearless expression of elegance. This collection is about breaking boundaries and embracing the extraordinary,” says Pallavi Puri.
The Dubai-based designer Pallavi Puri began her career in New Delhi in 1998 and trained at the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT). Known for fusing the richness of Indian heritage with contemporary silhouettes, she is recognized for exquisite craftsmanship, fine embroidery and mirror work, and for an atelier approach that places the client at the center of the creative process. However, it was in 2021 when Puri introduced her Emirati line that the global stage began calling. It was love at first sight for many of her Gulf clients who instantly fell in love with her eye for detail and luxurious designs that empower women.
Indian Supermodel, and opening showstopper, Lisa Haydon, said of the occasion: “It’s always special to step onto the runway and bring a designer’s vision to life, which is why I’m thrilled to be opening the show for Pallavi Puri at Dubai Fashion Week tomorrow. She’s a designer who really celebrates creativity, individuality and the art of fashion.”
Lebanese actress and singer Cyrine Abdel Nour, a figure of pure screen-and-stage glamour, will bring the runway to its crescendo in a showstopper dress made for the final, lingering look of the night.
As the last look lands, the moment turns from runway to tableau. Two icons, one designer: Lisa Haydon and Cyrine Abdel Nour will walk out together with Pallavi Puri to take the final bow, a fitting image for a collection that crosses borders, from India to Kuwait and from Dubai to the wider world.
“I’ve always been fascinated by the beauty of fabrics – The softness of silk, the richness of embroidery and the delicate interplay of lace and embellishments. For me, the fabric is what brings the gown to life, while precise cuts and fluid silhouettes create a sense of effortless elegance. Every piece in this collection, is designed to celebrate femininity through textures, movement and timeless sophistication.” concludes Puri.
Dubai Fashion Week (DFW) returns to Dubai Design District (d3) from 22 to 26 October 2026 for its Spring/Summer 2027 edition. Co-founded by Dubai Design District and the Arab Fashion Council, the week brings together leading and emerging designers from the region and beyond, alongside international buyers and key industry figures. Beyond the runway, the program includes networking opportunities and a dedicated Buyers Program, giving retailers the chance to discover new collections, meet designers and explore potential partnerships. DFW continues to reinforce Dubai’s position as a global hub for fashion and creativity.
Hermoine Macura-Noble
The first Australian English speaking News Anchor in the Middle East. She is also the Author of Faces of the Middle East and Founder of US-based 501c3 charity – The House of Rest which helps to ease the suffering of victims of war. For more from our Contributing Editor, you can follow her on Instagram, here.
