Every summer develops its own visual language. Last year it was butter yellow, raffia accessories and oversized shirts. This season, however, fashion has cast its net a little deeper.
Fish have appeared dangling from handbags, shells have migrated onto crochet tops, and shimmering textures that mimic scales have quietly slipped into everyday wardrobes. Coastal core has arrived, and Egyptian brands have embraced it with remarkable ease.
Our summers unfold between Sahel weekends, Red Sea diving trips and long afternoons spent chasing the coastline. Dressing for the water has become almost second nature, making ocean-inspired fashion feel less like novelty and more like an extension of the season itself.
Like so many of this summer’s strongest trends, coastal core succeeds because it doesn’t ask us to reinvent our wardrobes entirely. Instead, it invites us to borrow small details from the landscapes that already define the season. In Egypt, where the coastline has shaped both our history and our summers for millennia, perhaps it was only a matter of time before fashion cast its line into the sea.
BENEATH THE SURFACE
The fascination with aquatic life runs much deeper than this summer’s wardrobes. Fish have occupied a place in Egyptian visual culture for thousands of years.
In Ancient Egypt, the Nile was both lifeline and symbol, with fish appearing in tomb paintings, jewellery and decorative objects as representations of abundance, fertility and daily life. Species such as the Nile tilapia were a staple source of food, they also found their way into artistic motifs that celebrated the river’s generosity.
Today’s fish-shaped pendants and sculptural accessories may be playful, but they echo a relationship with water that has long shaped Egyptian identity.
Elsewhere, designers have looked towards the ocean through mermaid silhouettes and dramatic seaside fantasy. Locally, however, the interpretation feels refreshingly understated.
Rather than dressing like mythical sea creatures, Egyptian brands are borrowing individual elements from marine life: the woven structure of fishing nets, the spiral of a shell, the curve of a fish or the texture of coral.
The result is wearable, tactile and unmistakably summery.
Whether you’re spending August on the North Coast or simply looking to bring a little seaside energy back to the city, these local labels are proving that coastal core is far more versatile than its name suggests.
NET GAINS
Fishing nets become fashion through Rebel Cairo’s Gulnaz Top, where intricate crochet recreates the open-weave texture of traditional nets without sacrificing elegance. Layered over swimwear or paired with linen trousers, it captures the relaxed spirit of coastal dressing while remaining polished enough for sunset dinners.
SHELLS, REIMAGINED
The humble seashell has graduated from souvenir status. Be Indie’s Crochet Seashells Top transforms the familiar beach find into wearable craftsmanship, combining hand-crocheted detailing with a soft baby blue palette that feels unmistakably coastal without becoming costume-like.
It is proof that sometimes the strongest nod to a trend comes through texture rather than print.
THE CARRY-ALL CATCH
Beach bags have become far more sculptural this season. Anūt Cairo’s Swirl Beach Bag embraces exaggerated woven forms that feel handcrafted and organic, striking the perfect balance between practicality and statement design. It is the kind of piece that works just as well strolling through Sahel as it does back in Cairo with an oversized white shirt.
Meanwhile, Rebel Cairo’s Fatima Bag offers another interpretation of the trend, using artisanal textures and natural fibres to channel the easy charm of Mediterranean summers.
A COSTAL CHARM
One of the most charming details emerging this season is the fish-shaped bag charm. Okhtein’s Samaka Charm turns a centuries-old symbol into a playful luxury accessory, adding movement and personality to even the simplest handbag. It reflects a wider shift towards customisation, where small details carry as much impact as the bag itself.
SALTWATER SPARKLE
Nashwa Jewelry’s Heatwave Collection transforms marine life into sculptural jewellery through fish-scale textures, fluid silhouettes and ocean-inspired gemstones. Pieces such as the Mint Catch Necklace and Coast Blues Earrings capture the spirit of coastal core without feeling overly literal.
FINISHING TOUCHES
The trend extends all the way to the hair. The Urban Jewel’s Seashell Claw Clip proves that practical accessories can still feel elevated, transforming an everyday essential into something that quietly references the coastline. It is an effortless way to embrace the aesthetic without committing to head-to-toe coastal dressing.
