CAIRO — For Egyptian fashion designer Farida Temraz, the lockdown period has dealt a heavy blow. She said, “The challenge was great. How can I afford to close my business, without letting this affect my workers?”

Temraz, 29, said she was afraid for her family and her daughter because of the coronavirus pandemic. “This is why I came up with the idea of doing an online fashion show on social media. It was difficult to simply give up on my dream for any reason whatsoever, even a global pandemic. So I figured I would design a practical, appropriate and safe overall that I can wear on top of my outfit to go to work and to dump in the washer when I get back home,” she told Al-Monitor.

“The overall was a major hit among companies and shops who wanted it for their workers. It became the masterpiece in my collection for the summer of 2020,” she continued, adding that she used Egyptian raw materials to make it practical with a modern design.

“It was no longer possible to hold any fashion shows or participate in any international ones. I knew the pandemic would go on for quite a while so I had to figure out how to cope with it and come up with suitable practical ideas. The opportunity of an online fashion show presented itself. It was the first online fashion show in Egypt and the Arab world. I am very happy with the turnout. It was an exciting experience for many,” Temraz explained.