What if the story behind a handbag was as important as the handbag itself?
For Paris-based designer Islam Dadov, it starts with a name. DADOV made its Paris debut during Fashion Week on September 30, introducing three handbag families – Neige, Bella and Aster – built around architectural shapes, tactile materials and a controlled approach to luxury. I had the chance to ask a few questions for Vanity Teen about the story behind the house, his approach to product and where he wants to take it next.
FIVE Ds, ONE FAMILY
When Dadov was 14, he decided to take his stepfather’s surname. He wanted to share the same family name as his two sisters. Years later, that decision became the name of his own fashion house.
The five Ds in the logo represent the five members of his family: Dadov, his two sisters, his mother and his stepfather. The symbol appears throughout the collection in chains and hardware, turning the logo into something more personal than a simple brand signature.
Dadov originally studied history before moving into fashion, working first at Inditex and later at Gucci and Dior in Paris, where he developed his understanding of product, materials and luxury production.
That experience comes through in the way he approaches the handbag. The house treats it not simply as an accessory, but as an object capable of shaping presence and identity. Every detail is considered through proportion, construction and material.
It also took almost a year to develop the three debut families, from refining the designs to finding the right materials and craftspeople capable of producing them to the standard Dadov wanted.
THREE BAGS, THREE MEMORIES
Each of the three families begins with a personal memory.
Neige comes from memories of harsh winters in the Northern Caucasus. Its rounded, plush volume contrasts with the sharper lines of the moving D chain, creating something soft and sculptural while remaining an everyday bag.
Bella is named after Dadov’s niece, the first child born into the family. The structured suede design is finished with rows of crystal fringe that catch the light and move with every step, giving the architectural shape a more fluid quality.
Aster goes back to childhood, inspired by the aster flower. Its sharper geometric construction is softened by velvety suede and finished with a custom D closure, bringing the family symbol back into the design.
Three bags, three memories, but one clear vocabulary. The shapes are clean, the hardware is deliberate and decoration is kept under control. Prices range from €2,800 to €4,400, with each handbag available in different colours and hardware options.
BUILDING BEYOND THE BAG
For DADOV, the debut is less about following a seasonal fashion cycle and more about establishing a foundation. The house describes its approach as one of continuity, with the intention of developing its objects over time rather than constantly replacing them with something new.
That slower approach is particularly interesting coming from someone who has spent years inside major fashion houses. Dadov’s philosophy is that value isn’t created through accumulation, but through reduction, discipline and control.
And the handbag may only be the beginning.
Dadov told Vanity Teen that he eventually wants to extend the brand beyond accessories and into womenswear, developing the house’s language further through clothing.
For now, though, the focus remains on these first three objects. Each carries a different memory, but they all come back to the same name — one that he chose as a teenager and has now turned into the foundation of his own house.