Vogue Arabia editor-in-chief Manuel Arnaut. Photo: Ziga Mihelcic With the Olympic Games approaching, we are dedicating this issue of Vogue Arabia to the world of sports, to how we relate to our bodies, and to the intricate correlation between athletics and fashion across centuries. Looking at history, a figure in motion has always pushed designers to find solutions for facilitating performance through style – from sketching new silhouettes that transformed the aesthetic of a determined era to developing new textiles with the support of science.
All these changes are usually accompanied by drastic social disruption, as the relationship we have with our figures – what to show, what to hide – has long been quite turbulent, even if sports justify specific dress codes that can be considered more risqué. As an example, I recall when Egypt’s three-time Olympian swimmer Farida Osman told us in a previous interview about the backlash she received when wearing her competitive bathing suit. As a former athlete myself, representing my national gymnastics team in multiple European and world championships, I have the biggest respect for many of the fantastic heroes we are highlighting in this issue.
From my own sports career, I remember the daily commitment necessary to endure all the hard work at the gym, the constant pain of having to live with twisted ankles or red muscles; but also the more personal hardships like missing family gatherings and birthday parties. However, I ma.
