Inside Nafsika Skourti’s Fashion Vision
Nafsika Skourti has quickly established herself as a distinctive voice in the world of luxury fashion, emerging as one of the leading Middle Eastern designers on the international stage. With headquarters in both Amman and Dubai, her eponymous brand is stocked by a growing roster of global retailers. A graduate of London’s prestigious Central Saint Martins, Skourti draws deeply from her dual Greek-Jordanian heritage and the socio-political tensions of her native Jordan to create collections that are both visually striking and conceptually rich.
Her third collection, Temporary Security, debuted at Fashion Forward Dubai Spring/Summer 2016, a key platform spotlighting emerging talent from the region. The collection boldly explored themes of conflict and instability, emblazoned with messages like “self-destruct,” and reflected Skourti’s interest in the blurred lines between protection and control. She was soon recognized as a finalist for the Style.com Arabia DDFC Fashion Prize, affirming her growing influence in the regional fashion landscape.
Skourti’s work consistently channels her most personal concerns. Her debut collection tackled the tension between corporate life and spirituality—an homage to her sister’s journey from the high-stress world of investment banking to the serenity of meditation. This thoughtful, introspective approach continues to shape her creative vision and sets her apart in the global fashion arena.
NAFSIKA SKOURTI (@nafsikaskourti) • Instagram photos and videos
We are based in Jordan - so that’s already half the story. The energy around our region is insane and as a creative, I’m always hunting for pools of electricity. We’re surrounded by wars and unjustifiable conflict. I didn’t mean to make a collection with political undertones – I started off thinking about youth and freedom, but the more I thought about freedom the more I understood that freedom has always been fought for. We take it for granted but some people died for the liberties we have today.
Variations on the classic camouflage print, now saturated with colour – military made beautiful. What was once a print associated with war and ugliness was now a print with colours to lift you, printed on silk cotton grosgrains, double georgettes and poplin. All our prints and embroideries are lovingly made in-house.
I imagined a powerful and positive protest of guys and girls who felt an urgency to go out and say something. We featured bilingual embroidered phrases saying the same things like ‘can we be victorious’ and ‘twice killed’. Arabic is not neutral right now – but that made it even more relevant. The words borders and television face each other on jeans, acting as a commentary on our generations priorities. Young people want to be politically aware but entertainment is just around the corner.
I love music festivals – the freedom, the escape, the good vibes, so lots of the design references came from what my friends and I wear, need, and want. We made backpacks and bum bags because we wanted our hands back, for moving, dancing, and fighting the good fight.
