Palestinian-Canadian artist Samar Hejazi wore a look by fellow Palestinian designer Zaid Farouki that prioritised form over ornament. The silhouette pushed outward at the hips, sculptural and almost architectural, while a structured leather bodice brought tactile weight to the upper half. A sheer skirt softened the composition without undercutting it. In a year when many defaulted to embellishment as their answer to the theme, this was something quieter and more demanding: a garment conceived as an object as much as something to be worn. @zaidfarouki
What made Hejazi's presence at this year's gala particularly resonant was that her influence extended beyond the red carpet entirely. Among the works commissioned for Costume Art are sculptural mannequin heads by Hejazi herself, whose practice spans sculpture, textiles, printmaking and installation. Working closely with curator Andrew Bolton, she redesigned the mannequin heads throughout the show, replacing the conventional face with a smooth, polished mirrored surface.