Dubai Fashion Week: Emerging as the Fifth Global Fashion Capital
Dubai recently made a grand entry into the world of fashion with the debut edition of Dubai Fashion Week. This six-day event, supported by Dubai Design District (d3), a member of TECOM Group PJSC, and the Arab Fashion Council, drew major global fashion capitals, designers, buyers and fashion enthusiasts from across the globe. The event saw a 55% growth in RSVP’s compared to Arab Fashion Week in March 2022, and it was one of the most popular globally. The shows were a full house each night, and designers showcased the highest calibre of creativity and craftsmanship throughout the week.
Dubai’s new initiative to become a fashion capital destination alongside Paris, New York, London and Milan came to fruition with the successful execution of Dubai Fashion Week. The event saw more than 10 countries showcasing their Autumn Winter 23/24 and Women’s Haute Couture 2023 collections. Over 45 shows, presentations and events took place on the Fashion Calendar, with stand-out moments from the inaugural edition.
The first night of the runway was opened by Amato Retrospective’s iconic designs, celebrating 25 years of Amato Couture. Dubai Fashion Week’s penultimate day featured the collections of DFW members part of the designers’ committee, Dima Ayad, Lama Jouni, and Mrs Keepa. Lili Blanc also showcased collections right off the Paris Fashion Week runways as part of AFC’s partnership with La Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode. Dubai-based label, Anomalous, unveiled a global collaboration with Hot Wheels, which is known for being the #1 selling toy in the world with over 8 billion vehicles sold.
The shows saw a strong buyers’ presence, including representatives from Asia, Europe, the Americas, and the Arab world. Dubai Fashion Week also saw the first-ever Buyers Talk presented by d3 and the Arab Fashion Council. The prestigious panel of, which included Georgina Gainza from Al Tayer Group, Raphael Deray from Printemps, Martina Solino from Tryano & Saks, Dani Stenin from Antonioli, and Caterina Ercoli from Level Shoes, shed light on the elements of a successful working partnership between the designer and the buyer, from commercial viability to planning schedules. Accompanying the Buyers Talk, a Designers Lookbook Review was held, giving the designers an opportunity to engage directly with buyers and showcase highlights from their collections.
The successful launch also marked the unveiling of a steering committee for Dubai Fashion Week, alongside a new buyers committee, and a permanent designers community, all working under the Arab Fashion Council’s supervision. These committees serve to ensure Dubai Fashion Week’s ambitious vision is met and steer the future of the event in a dynamic and sustainable way.
Jacob Abrian, Chief Executive Officer of the Arab Fashion Council, said that, “The new Dubai Fashion Week is off to a great start. We have already surpassed the momentum gained during Arab Fashion Week, if the packed shows and positive response from talent, buyers and audiences alike are anything to go by. We are already working with d3 to ensure that the next edition raises the bar further and establish Dubai as a core contributor to the global fashion dialogue.”
Dubai Fashion Week also witnessed other exciting new initiatives, with the Fashion Partners adding to the hype with a host of invite-only experiences. Exclusive events took place across the city as part of the vision to broaden the reach of Dubai Fashion Week and unite the city and region’s fashion scene. Ferragamo hosted a Styling Masterclass event with Lana Qatramiz and Gaelle Hojeily at Dubai Mall Boutique celebrating the SS23 collection launch. Level Shoes collaborated with Gallery Collectional to launch their new in-store personal shopping services, By Appointment: Where Fashion Meets Design. The Stella McCartney label invited guests to a private preview and workshop for the limited-edition Emerald Capsule Collection for Ramadan. Etoile La Boutique hosted a private lunch to discover Serena handbags, and there was a special buyers’ dinner at Caviar Kaspia in celebration of the first edition of Dubai Fashion Week.
Apart from custom-built, flexible structures for the event, Dubai Fashion Week took place in unique, alfresco surroundings. It was held at The Block at d3, which includes the basketball court and skate park. Dubai Fashion Week’s successful launch has firmly established it as the definitive fashion fixture and part of the city’s bid to become the fifth fashion capital destination of the world. The events are set to get bigger and better, and it remains to see what we can expect from the next edition of Dubai Fashion Week.
The success of the first edition has cemented Dubai’s position on the world fashion map, thanks to its multicultural melting pot and commitment to nurturing the creative economy. The drive to promote inclusivity and diversity in the fashion world has come to fruition through the success of Dubai Fashion Week. The event provided regional and international talent a gateway to new partnerships, markets, and opportunities, answering a global call for inclusivity and diversity in the fashion world. Despite being in its first edition, Dubai Fashion Week was a spectacular way to debut as the fifth global fashion capital, and the region’s creative future looks promising.
For more information on Dubai Fashion Week, please visit the official website www.dubaifashionweek.org.
