New Delhi, March 27 -- We've all read the stories of how women turn to fashion in times of crisis. During World War II in the UK under the shadow of the Blitz, people still dressed for evenings out, holding on to elegance as a way of refusing to surrender normal life. You could say the mantra was: keep calm, wear red lipstick and carry on.

More recently, when the Russian invasion of Ukraine began, the global fashion industry turned its gaze to Ukraine, celebrating its crafts and heritage, while designers from the region found themselves in the spotlight.

Living through a moment of conflict myself and doing so as a fashion commentator, has shifted my understanding of clothing's social and cultural role. Of course, life in Dubai remains f...