As a 21stcentury nomad growing up across continents, DimaKassis had a defining passion for high fashion from an early age. Born in New York City of Lebanese descent, Dima spent the mostof her early childhood in 80’s francophone Algeria where she was first introduced to the influence of French glamour and design.
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In the early 90’s Dima moved on to neighbouring Morocco where she revealed in a world of color and opulent glamour. Inspired by the idea of eastern opulence meeting modern sensibilities in fashion, Dima spent evenings developing her sketches with a couturiere graduate of L’Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris. Here she saw vintage designer couture pieces restored, and the workmanship and detailing in creating a caftan. She began looking at the color-intense and detail- infused caftans, and designing simple understated and elegant ones that she would wear to weddings and social occasions. Dima began taking fabric she had on hand of beaded guipure lace and removing the beads in search of creating a modern, subdued and minimally chic caftan.
Having received a bachelor’s degree in finance from the American University in Washington D.C. in 2004, it took Dima six years and several countries to finally make the leap from corporate banking to courses at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design. From London onto the European textile fairs, just over a year later, Dima’s vision finally began to take form, and in 2011 she moves to her native Lebanon to set up studio in preparation for her Autumn Winter 2012-13 collection.
Through the culmination of her travels and experiences, Dough is her global nomad take on an anonymously chic design aesthetic. Her desire to create a luxury brand embodies an understated and poised elegance with an edge. Always imparting a very feminine gypsy spirit, it was about creating pieces that were original, meticulous and sophisticated in their simplicity.
“I’m permanently reinventing myself as I want to explore different languages throughout the seasons… while continuing to evolve in a timeless minimal way,” explains the young designer.
Dough did the english cover of UFFP webzine, january 2014 edition
Her collections appeal to a cosmopolitan nomadic clientele, who both sophisticated and self-confident, understands the elements of an essential elegance
