Dubai Fashion Week: The Rise of the Fifth Global Fashion Capital
Dubai Fashion Week (DFW) has emerged as one of the most popular global fashion events with a staggering growth in RSVP’s of 55% from its previous event, the Arab Fashion Week, held in March 2022. The event, supported by Dubai Design District (d3) and the Arab Fashion Council, saw a full house each night with the presence of buyers and designers from the major global fashion capitals.
Dubai is now vying to become the fifth fashion capital destination, besides Paris, New York, London and Milan, and DFW is a major step towards achieving that goal. The event boasts a range of over 45 shows, presentations and events spread across six days, where top designers from more than 10 countries presented their collections.
DFW is a colourful celebration of the highest calibre of creativity and craftsmanship. It showcases the dynamic runways and programmes that are unique to Dubai and the region. This year’s event featured noteworthy shows such as the iconic designs of Amato Retrospective which celebrated 25 years of Amato Couture, Lili Blanc’s collections straight off Paris Fashion Week runways as part of AFC’s partnership with La Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode, and Anomalous’ global collaboration with Hot Wheels, the #1 selling toy in the world.
The event saw a strong buyers’ presence with representatives from Asia, Europe, the Americas and the Arab world. The Arab Fashion Council and d3 also presented the first-ever Buyers Talk which brought together a prestigious panel of buyers to shed light on the elements of a successful working partnership between the designer and the buyer.
DFW is all set to raise the bar further in the future editions in a bid to establish Dubai as a core contributor to the global fashion dialogue. Jacob Abrian, the Chief Executive Officer of the Arab Fashion Council, had this to say about DFW, “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 establishing Dubai as a core contributor to the global fashion dialogue.”
DFW was not just about fashion shows and presentations, it also featured a number of other exciting initiatives. A steering committee for DFW was unveiled along with a new buyers committee and a permanent designers committee, all of which work under the Arab Fashion Council’s supervision. The objective of these committees is to ensure DFW’s ambitious vision is met and steer the future of the event in a dynamic and sustainable way.
DFW took place in unique alfresco surroundings, including the basketball court and skate park at The Block at d3, and exclusive events also took place across the city with partners adding hype with a host of invite-only experiences.
The success of DFW is the result of Dubai’s multicultural melting-pot and its commitment to nurturing the creative economy. As Khadija Al Bastaki, Senior Vice President of d3, said, “Designers demonstrated the highest calibre of creativity and craftsmanship throughout the week. As a global creative platform, we at d3 are thrilled to see Dubai help shape the global creative dialogue. Not only did DFW provide regional and international talent a gateway to new partnerships, markets, and opportunities, but it also answered a global call for inclusivity and diversity in the fashion world.”
Dubai Fashion Week has opened new avenues for the global creative economy and a new chapter in Dubai’s rise to becoming the fifth global fashion destination. With its multiculturalism and innovative spirit, Dubai is bound to continue pushing boundaries and redefining global fashion standards.
