The founder and creative director reflects on movement, femininity, and the emotional vision behind the house’s Fall/Winter 2026 collection.

For Fall/Winter 2026, Dubai-based Ilái Sarái unveils Wadi01: Saba, a collection rooted in movement, architectural structure, and the emotional tension between softness and control. Building on the house’s ongoing philosophy, The Art of Becoming, the new season feels less like a departure and more like a natural evolution of the brand’s visual language, one that continues to explore identity, femininity, and transformation through clothing.

At the centre of the collection is the mythical wind of Saba, traditionally associated with joy, hope, and the arrival of something new. Rather than approaching the theme literally, Founder and Creative Director Saina Babaee translates the feeling of Saba into silhouette, movement, and atmosphere.

As she explains, “Ilái Sarái has always explored the relationship between structure and fluidity, and with Wadi:01- Saba we wanted to push that dialogue further through shape, movement and atmosphere. ‘Saba’ takes its name from the mythical wind of Saba, often associated with joy, hope and the arrival of something new, and that feeling runs throughout the collection.”

That duality between precision and softness is visible throughout the collection. Architectural references drawn from arches, pillars, and spatial form create a strong structural foundation, yet these elements are continuously softened through drape, folds, and volume. Tailoring remains sharp but never rigid, while silhouettes shift naturally between sculpted forms and freer movement. Dresses open fluidly as the body moves, wrapped construction introduces softness into clean lines, and gathered fabric creates a quiet sense of motion across the collection.

“The silhouettes shift between sculpted and flowing, sharp tailoring is softened through drape, wrapped construction and volume, while dresses and separates are designed to move naturally with the body,” says Saina Babaee.

The collection’s design choices feel thoughtful rather than excessive. Tailored blazers bring clarity and definition, while blouses introduce softness through movement around the neckline and upper body. Separates, including trousers, shorts, and skirts, continue the same exploration of proportion and balance. There is an intentional restraint throughout the collection, where construction and silhouette become the focus rather than decoration.

Materiality also plays a central role in shaping the collection’s atmosphere. Fabrics sourced from leading Italian mills and produced entirely in Italy reflect a commitment to craftsmanship and material integrity. Even the more abstract silhouettes remain wearable, balancing experimentation with practicality.

Colour is approached with the same level of subtlety and emotional control. Black and ivory form the collection’s foundation, accompanied by khaki, coffee, and beige tones that ground the season in warmth and neutrality. Sky blue appears throughout as a visual reference to openness, movement, and air, directly connecting back to the mythology of the Saba wind. Black-and-white prints introduce another layer of rhythm and texture across dresses, capes, tops, and skirts.

“The colour palette reflects that same sense of balance, with black and ivory forming the foundation alongside khaki, with touches of sky blue referencing the openness of air and movement,” Saina Babaee explains. “For me, the collection reflects Ilái Sarái becoming more defined in its visual language while staying deeply connected to emotion, heritage and modern femininity.”

The launch of Wadi01: Saba itself reflected the same emotional and intentional approach as the collection. Rather than staging a traditional presentation, Saina Babaee hosted a series of intimate conversations around the idea of The Art of Becoming, bringing together founders, creatives, business leaders, and women from across Dubai. Alongside her longtime friend Zeina El Dana, Babaee opened conversations around leadership, femininity, ambition, pressure, and self-trust, topics often left outside traditional fashion presentations. From the grounding session led by Reem (Mouazzen Alyawer) to the conversations shared in the room, the launch became a reminder that success is not only about achievement, but also about how we feel through the process of becoming.

“For the launch of Wadi:01- Saba, it felt important to create something more intimate and meaningful than a traditional presentation,” she shares. “The launch became a reminder that success is not only about achievement, but also about how we feel through the process of becoming.”

More than a seasonal collection, Wadi01: Saba feels like a statement of where Ilái Sarái is heading next, a house becoming increasingly confident in its design language while remaining deeply connected to emotion, craftsmanship, and the evolving experience of modern femininity.