Dubai Fashion Week: A New Fashion Capital?
Dubai’s fashion industry is growing at a rapid pace and has been making waves in recent years. The city’s fashion week, called Arab Fashion Week, has been attracting significant attention, and with the recent launch of Dubai Fashion Week, the city is looking to establish itself as the fifth global fashion capital, alongside Paris, New York, London and Milan.
Starting off as Arab Fashion Week, the new Dubai Fashion Week debuted with an exciting and dynamic lineup of runway shows, presentations, and events. With over 45 shows and 28 designers from over 10 countries showcasing their collections, Dubai Fashion Week was a grand success. The event garnered a 55% growth in RSVPs compared to the Arab Fashion Week held earlier in 2022, attracting a full house each night with buyers and designers from major global fashion capitals.
The event was supported by Dubai Design District (d3), a member of TECOM Group PJSC, and the Arab Fashion Council and marked the start of Dubai’s bid to become a fashion capital. Khadija Al Bastaki, Senior Vice President of Dubai Design District (d3), expressed her elation at the success of the event and the creativity and craftsmanship demonstrated by the designers. “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. This was possible thanks to Dubai’s multicultural melting pot and commitment to nurturing the creative economy,” she said.
The six-day fashion event saw several defining moments, such as Amato Retrospective’s iconic designs in celebration of 25 years of Amato Couture, Dubai Fashion Week’s penultimate day featuring the collections of DFW members part of the designers’ committee, Lili Blanc showcasing collections straight off the Paris Fashion Week runways, as part of AFC’s partnership with La Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode, and Dubai-based label Anomalous unveiling the global collaboration with Hot Wheels, the #1 selling toy in the world with over 8 billion vehicles sold.
The shows also drew strong buyers’ presence, with representatives from Asia, Europe, the Americas, and the Arab world in attendance. The Arab Fashion Council and d3 hosted the first-ever Buyer’s Talk, bringing together a panel of buyers from the UAE and Europe to shed light on the elements of a successful working partnership between the designer and the buyer, from commercial viability to planning schedules.
Dubai Fashion Week also marked the launch of several exciting initiatives, including a steering committee, a new buyers committee, and a permanent designers committee, all working under the Arab Fashion Council’s supervision. These committees aim 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, expressed his satisfaction with the event, saying, “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 establishing Dubai as a core contributor to the global fashion dialogue.”
Along with custom-built, flexible structures for the event, Dubai Fashion Week took place in unique, alfresco surroundings – including the basketball court and skate park at The Block at d3. Exclusive events also 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.
Several fashion partners added to the hype with a host of invite-only experiences. Emergency Room and Byhpe held exclusive after parties, while Dubai Fashion Week member designer Hussein Bazaza held an intimate fashion presentation and party. 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.
Dubai is rapidly emerging as a fashion hub, with the growth potential of its fashion industry catching the attention of global fashion players. Dubai Fashion Week is a crucial development in the city’s bid to establish itself as one of the fashion capitals of the world. With this successful debut, the fashion industry in Dubai has certainly shown that it has the creativity, innovation, and adaptability necessary to meet the growing demand for high-quality fashion, not just in the region but globally.
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