Over four decades, Marina Rinaldi has proudly established itself as a luxury fashion brand that celebrates inclusivity, individuality, and style. A pioneer in high-end design for women in larger sizes, the Italian fashion house, which is part of the Max Mara Group, has carved out a natural space for itself, providing well-made designs for women who look for comfort and confidence from their clothing choices. 

“Marina Rinaldi wants to be very focused on women and allowing our clients to be empowered,” explains Sheila De Pietri, the brand’s CEO. Her current mission is spearheading the vision to go beyond size (although it does cater for women who are an Italian size 46 [UK 14 or US 12] up to a size 60 [UK 28/US 26]) and focus on speaking to women who “want to be at ease and comfortable in what they wear. It’s more about authenticity and different shapes and proportions,” she explained during a recent visit to Dubai. 

De Pietri was in the Middle East to promote the brand’s collaboration with Lebanese couturier Zuhair Murad, which is now in its second season. Known for his opulent red-carpet creations, Murad is bringing his sense of glamour to Marina Rinaldi’s portfolio. The partnership marks a decade of collaborations for the brand. It has previously created capsule collections in partnership with designers including Mary Katrantzou, Fausto Puglisi, Sara Battaglia, Roksanda, Marco Di Vincenzo, and Dubai’s very own Dima Ayad. 

“We definitely need to understand if the designer is a person who can have the same values as Marina Rinaldi. We need to share the same ideas in terms of details, attention to embroideries, and speaking to women globally.” De Pietri shares. “Marina Rinaldi’s designs are all made in Italy. We collaborate with designers, but the design and manufacturing of the product are always done at our headquarters.” 

De Pietri believes that keeping production in-house is key to the brand’s success. “Everything is internal,” she confirms. This production choice ensures that every piece meets the highest standards of quality, a crucial factor when catering to a diverse range of sizes and proportions.

This meticulous approach to pattern-making is essential for creating flattering garments. “It always starts from the patterns. The patterns department is constantly studying the different proportions of women, going up or down within the size range,” De Pietri notes. She also points out that Murad himself appreciated the opportunity to delve deeper into this technical aspect. “He was very focused on learning something in terms of sizes and patterns. We were lucky because we were aligned on many things. For sure, in this capsule, the embroideries are a step ahead. This is maybe what Mr Murad gave us,” De Pietri reflects. 

Murad’s heavily embroidered, elegant design aesthetic can be clearly seen in the Marina Rinaldi collection, which takes inspiration from ancient China’s Tang dynasty. The focus is on gala-ready pieces that celebrate femininity in all its forms. Chiffon gowns with flared skirts, hand-embroidered kaftans with peony motifs, and feather-light fabrics in pastel tones. Murad’s signature DNA shines through while honouring Marina Rinaldi’s commitment to inclusivity.

As the fashion world grapples with societal pressures and evolving body standards, now fuelled by a newfound curiosity around weight-loss drugs, Marina Rinaldi remains steadfast in its mission to create for all women. 

De Pietri is clear on this. “We don’t want to be telling our customers we are just for plus-size women,” she says. “Being plus size is just part of being inclusive. It’s about not excluding anyone.” Her words underscore the brand’s ability to understand women’s needs. “During her life, a woman’s shape will change,” she adds. “What’s important is that we are always there for women as they go through these stages of their life.”