Based on historical research, the costumes for the official 54th National Day celebration, held yesterday at the Zayed National Museum in Abu Dhabi, were designed. The fabrics took us back 8000 years, serving as a testament to the country's history that predates the union. The design team included Emirati fashion designer Sara Al-Sulaymani. In her interview with 'Emirates Today,' she confirmed that the costumes featured fantastical details suited to the theatrical performance and the narrative of the event, transporting the audience through various historical eras. Historical Research and Inspiration Regarding the inspiration and starting point for the costume design for the National Day celebration, Sara Al-Sulaymani told 'Emirates Today': 'The costume details were primarily inspired by historical research, especially since this year's celebration tells the story of the Zayed National Museum and its artifacts, which span over 8000 years. This is the first time the National Day team has linked traditional costumes with historical research and verification of this scale in the National Day celebrations.' She added: 'The performance was theatrical, so it was essential to incorporate fantastical details that fit the nature of the theatrical performance and complement the story written by the narrative team for the gala. The process represents a delicate balance between preserving historical details to transport the audience to the correct era and adding an artistic and imaginative touch that makes the theatrical scene engaging and enjoyable.' Past and Present On the choice of fabrics suitable for the different time periods portrayed in the performance, Al-Sulaymani noted that the show was divided between the past and the present. Therefore, it was necessary to consider the historical period. For example, 8000 years ago, modern fabrics did not exist; the materials were coarse in texture with large openings, made from the only available resource—cotton—or from animal hides. In the finale, which symbolizes the present, where children are the main heroes, over 150 children participated this year. The children were divided according to the historical artifacts being displayed. For instance, fabrics inspired by the light color of Abu Dhabi's pearls were created. As for the carnelian beads, published research on discoveries in the region and the engravings on them were used to transform these engravings into printing templates for use on the fabrics during the official celebration. Al-Sulaymani confirmed that cultural consultants were consulted to help select the traditional male costumes, including the attire of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, God rest his soul, in his youth and adulthood, as well as to determine the color of the children's kanduras in the finale. Colors for Each Emirate Al-Sulaymani pointed out that the colors of the costumes this year were based on the color palette chosen by the design team for each emirate, as in past years' shows. These colors were used for printing on the fabrics. She noted that the color of pearl was used to represent the period 8000 years ago, as there is no evidence of fabric dyes at that time. Most fabrics and animal hides were light in earthy tones due to sun exposure. Some colors, such as purple, beige, and light white, were added to distinguish elements on stage. By the time of the 5000-year mark, colors began to appear, such as red. The children's scene was more colorful in its palette. Al-Sulaymani emphasized that there was a focus on using the entire color palette to give the children joyful costumes that reflect the celebration and provide them with an opportunity to learn about the fabric prints, their meaning, and importance. Pearl Research On balancing the historical character with contemporary costumes, Al-Sulaymani confirmed that the historical character prevails in the performance, so the costumes were inspired by the historical evidence found on this land, including the scene of pearl diving 8000 years ago. Creative modifications were made to the divers' and fishermen's costumes, and in these modifications, a balance was maintained between the historical character based on available information and the cultural values we preserve today, ensuring an appropriate and expressive national identity. She noted that although sewing machines did not exist thousands of years ago, clothing was designed with care and featured beautiful embroidery and details. This research was used to provide the team with threads and needles to innovate in their designs. It was also discovered that people in that period used linings to protect clothing and extend its lifespan. Al-Sulaymani mentioned that Emirati traditional costumes appear in scenes featuring the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan in his childhood, in children's performances, and when he appears as an adult. She stressed that many factors were considered when designing the costumes, including historical accuracy, the context of the costume display, the theatrical narrative, and the suitability of the clothing for the people wearing it in each time period and what would have been logical to wear at that time. Visual Narrative Al-Sulaymani considers the costumes in the official celebration not just clothing, but a living visual narrative that directly and powerfully tells the story to the audience. Its goal is to make the audience feel the text written by the narrative team through the details of each costume and every movement on stage, especially since the visuals are predominant. She explained that the scene with the artisans minting coins, for example, their clothes were worn and slightly dirty to reflect the nature of their work—blacksmithing and carpentry—which gave the scene authenticity and vitality. She stressed that the costumes play a pivotal role in the power of the performance, as they unify the visual image, link it to the national identity, and help the audience live inside the story with all its details. Challenges Sara Al-Sulaymani confirmed that the biggest challenge the entire team faced was the accuracy of the historical research, especially since the performance requires dealing with eras spanning thousands of years and needs a deep reading of the available archaeological evidence. In addition, it was necessary to reconcile the historical details with the artistic needs of the theatrical performance, such as the actors' movements on stage, lighting, and camera angles. Time was also a significant factor, as it was necessary to develop unique and detailed costumes within a limited time. These challenges were overcome through continuous collaboration between the costume team, cultural consultants, and other teams. The 'work' represents a delicate balance between preserving historical details to transport the audience to the correct era and adding an artistic and imaginative touch that makes the theatrical scene engaging and enjoyable.
