Souq Fashion Launches On October 15

SOUQ.com launches Souq Fashion

SOUQ.com, MENA's (Middle East Northern Africa) leading online retailer, launches Souq Fashion this October 2012. The new fashion site will provide front row access to trend-leading designers from around the world, not previously available to MENA consumers. There will be a focus on ready-to-wear and accessory labels with a strong celebrity following in the US and the UK including DL1961, Paper Crown, For Love and Lemons, Wildfox and more. Souq Fashion is also proud to champion the collections of some of the regions brightest design stars, including a wide selection of highly talented up-and-coming Arabic designers such as Dina JSR, Ronald Abdala, Contessa by Aly Fawaz, Abeer Al Suwaidi and Dima Ayad.

Souq Fashion will initially offer more than 80 designers, in addition to new trends, and online style advice with a targeted demographic of 18-39-year-old women and men.

 “Our goal is to provide regional access to brands and leading trends spotted on the runway and red carpets throughout the world at a variety of affordable price points,” said Mary Ghobrial, CEO of Souq Fashion. “We are also showcasing for the first time key local talent to support the success of Arabic designers.”

The site will commemorate this historic launch with a major event on October 15 in Dubai, UAE, honouring celebrity stylists Rob Zangardi and Mariel Haenn who have partnered with the fashion forward site. They’ll provide styling “how-to” tips and new season trend presentations to SOUQ’s viewership. The stylists, known for dressing A-list celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez, Rihanna and Gwen Stefani, have earned international praise for their innovative visions and have been quoted in publications such as InStyle, People and Vogue. Their work has also been featured in publications including Vogue, Esquire, Rolling Stone, Forbes, Cosmopolitan, W Magazine and Seventeen.

“As the largest ecommerce platform in the region, with more than 8 million visits per month, we are the only ones at the forefront to launch fashion online in the Middle East,” said Ronaldo Mouchawar, CEO of SOUQ.com.

About SOUQ Fashion

Souq Fashion is the latest addition to SOUQ.com, the largest online shopping site in the Arab world. Souq Fashion is set to be the leading online fashion retailer in the region. The online fashion haven positions itself at the forefront of accessible fashion, collating and presenting the collections of prolific new-to-the-region designers, as well as many talented designers from the Middle East. Celebrity style at your fingertips, Souq Fashion will bring you the looks and style worn by your favorite celebrities. www.souq.com/fashion

About Mariel Haenn and Rob Zangardi

“The styling duo works with Jennifer Lopez, Rachel McAdams, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith and Rihanna -- enough said.”

25 Most Powerful Stylists 2011

The Hollywood Reporter

Renowned celebrity stylists Rob Zangardi and Mariel Haenn are true image-makers as the creative go-to team in the styling and wardrobe design world. Entrusted to create the images of new artists and re-imagine the looks of established names, they’ve been called on by music and entertainment’s biggest stars.

Rob and Mariel are the duo behind the style resurgence of Jennifer Lopez, who was named People Magazine’s Most Beautiful of 2011, and they created, and continue to make, singer Rihanna’s fashion forward style the most talked about in the music and fashion world.   Earlier this year, releasing their first studio album since 2001, Gwen Stefani & No Doubt are the most recent addition to Rob and Mariel’s long list of clients.   Understanding many different project requirements is second nature to Rob and Mariel.  Their innovative vision and expertise have earned them international praise not only for their styling skills, but as cutting edge designers.  Rob says, “We realize that the most visible and noticed part of the production is what is worn by the performer.  So much is relying on the costume to tell the story or carry the concept of the performance.  We love that challenge.”