The henna dress is the traditional wedding dress for certain communities of the Middle East. This ensemble usually comprises of pants with embroidered cuffs, over which is worn a jellabia with a very loose fitting chiffon caftan, called a“thobe” and finally a richly embellished “shaila”, a shawl used to cover the head and face of the bride.

The thobe can be multi paneled of various vivid colors with large open sleeves adding to this voluminous garment. The neckline and front panel are also richly embellished along with the panel seams and the cuffs of the sleeves. Gold is the prominent color of embroidery to complement the traditional ‘henna” jewellery which adorns the brides head, neck, wrists, hands and ankles.

On this auspicious occasion, the brides’ hands and feet are decorated with intricate designs with henna, where these patterns of bodily adornment enhance the beauty of the tradition and the ritual of the custom.

Arushi embraced the exotic tradition of this cultural ensemble by adding many various themes to the layers worn by the Henna Bride. By researching the historical costumes of the orient and the illustrations from the stories of Scheherazade and a Thousand and One Nights, a new interpretation is created where the Arushi Henna Dresses now conjure emotions of Persian princesses and brides from the courts of the Moguls.

The combination of sumptuous fabrics to highlight the different layers of the ensemble and with the application of varied exquisite embroidery defines a costume from history for the traditions of today’s oriental bride and the unique “golden” ceremony that signifies her status of marriage in her community