Celebrated Designers
Return and Innovative New Labels To Debut at the Must-Visit Fashionable Eid
Destination in October
Fashion Forward, the Middle
East’s definitive fashion platform, ushers in its second season with 85%
returning talents from Season One alongside some of the region’s brightest designers
making their catwalk debuts. With four
full days of catwalk presentation, talks, educational sessions and networking
events, Fashion Forward is set to be the must-visit destination for Eid Al-Adha
among the region’s fashion buyers, commentators, collectors and influencers.
Fashion Forward Season Two,
taking place from 15th-18th October, will welcome over 18 designers
from across the region, showing couture pieces as well as ready-to-wear. As a new
addition for Season Two, more than 40 accessories designers have been
hand-picked to show their collections at The Garden, giving guests and industry
professionals the chance to purchase their own piece of original Middle Eastern
fashion.
Throughout the four day
event, guests will be able to see the
latest creations from across the Middle East as the designers descend on Dubai
from Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Saudi, Qatar and the wider UAE.
“To have significantly more than
three-quarters of the designers from Fashion Forward’s inaugural event return
for Season Two demonstrates the viability and demand for this platform in the
region,” said Bong Guerrero, Founder and CEO of Fashion Forward (FFWD). “It is
a testament to Fashion Forward’s vision to be a sustainable, bi-annual event
which will nurture and grow the long-term prospects for these regional
designers, offering a platform for them to consistently showcase their designs
to a regional and increasingly international audience.”
“We are also excited to introduce
a number of exciting industry newcomers from the Gulf, bringing even further
diversity to the already eclectic portfolio. FFWD is an intrinsically regional
platform, and the recent headlines about the need for fashion and design
incubation in the GCC underscore our commitment to its growth,” added Guerrero.
Among the new design talents showing
at Fashion Forward Season Two:
Aziz Humaid - The
young Saudi designer uses minimalistic and monochromatic design with
strong silhouettes and asymmetrical lines. The womenswear label aims to fight
against the decadently superficial, and revolutionise fashion in the Kingdom.
Endemage – Omani
sisters, Nadia and Lubna created Endemage, meaning “the merging of two” in
2010.The brand
incorporates ultra-feminine dresses, billowy evening gowns and Arabic-infused
styles, drawing inspiration from traditional Omani designs. www.endemage.com
GISELLAblu- British/Australian Sacha Plumbridge and
British born Nana Agyeman form Dubai based label GISELLAblu - creating unique embellished
evening dresses made from Italian silk and punctuated with sequins and
crystals.
House of
Fatam – The House of Fatam or HOF
was created by three Emirati sisters based between Dubai and Abu
Dhabi: Lamya, Shaima and Fatma Gargash. The brand shows colourful and modern takes on
classic Arab garments. www.houseoffatam.com
Madiyah Al Sharqi – Sheikha Madiyah Al Sharqi is the daughter of the Ruler
of Fujairah, HH Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi. Al Sharqi offers
effortless eveningwear with an updated edge, evolving the traditional vision of
elegance. www.madiyahalsharqi.com
Reem Al Kanhal- The young Saudi designer
creates distinctive ready to wear pieces with an eclectic and androgynous feel. Reem’s passion
for fashion is clear
through her unique designs, characterised by her developed prints and row cuts. www.rk-designs.com/en/
Complementing these new shows,
and building on their phenomenal success from Season One are these 12 celebrated
designers, with more to be announced in the coming weeks:
Amato – Since 2002,
Dubai-based Furne One has been creating innovative pieces of couture, loved by
his international clientele and celebrities alike. In keeping with couture
traditions, Amato textures its own fabrics, fashioning lavish materials adorned
with rare embellishment techniques. www.amatohautecouture.com
Amira Haroon - Of
Pakistani origin, but raised in the Middle East, Amira set up her label in
2009, her pieces employ luxe fabrics, laces and detailed hand-
embellishments utilising fine and age-old craftsmanship from the region. The
result is a part vintage and part luxe-bohemian silhouette. www.amiraharoon.com
Dima Ayad - Dima Ayad launched her unique brand of eveningwear in
2010.The Lebanese designer strives to provide women with ‘fashion that makes
you feel good’ – stylish, sophisticated and stunning dresses with a
‘wear-and-go’ philosophy that accentuate and celebrate their bodies, no matter
what shape or size.www.dimaayad.com
Dina Jsr - Lebanese by origin, Dina Jsr was raised in Saudi Arabia. Her
designs include cocktail and evening dresses celebrating grace and style and
Dina Jsr’s collections tend to be inspired by fine lines and geometric
architecture. www.dinajsr.com
The Emperor 1688- Offering
stand-out luxury menswear, The Emperor 1688 is the concept of three Iranian
brothers who set up the label in 2007. Their collections combine exquisite
tailoring, with regal prints and classic cuts made of the finest European
fabrics. www.theemperor1688.com
Essa- Of
Indian origin, but of Arab sensibilities, Essa’s designs consistently try to weave
together the traditional and the modern by relying on materials and prints that
have iconic cuts and are universally flattering, creating extraordinary,
colourful and contemporary ready to wear pieces.
Ezra- For over a decade, Dubai-based, Filipino designer Ezra has been
producing exquisitely- made, extravagant couture, establishing his brand as
synonymous to elegance and beauty. www.ezrafashiondesign.com
Kage - Childhood friends Arwa Abdelhadi and Basma Abu Ghazaleh created
their label in 2009, offering playful and chic contemporary womenswear. Kage mixes Lace,
velvet, furs, luxurious tweeds and metallic embellishments in their fun,
stylish ready to wear pieces. www.bykage.com
Starch- Three
Lebanese designers Hussein Bazaza, Bashar Assaf, and Lara Khoury present their collections
under Rabih Kayrouz’s mentorship.
Before studying fashion design in Esmod, Hussein Bazaza experimented in many artistic fields including illustration, photography and artistic direction.
Bashar Assaf is a Lebanese fashion designer currently based in Beirut.
The signature behind his label is its ability to challenge the female body with
brave geometry complimented with sensibility to material and craftsmanship.
Lara Khoury, launched her eponymous label
Lara in 2010, she makes her Fashion Forward debut this October.
Toujouri- Doha-based designer Lama El-Moatassem
launched Toujouri in 2009. In each collection translate effortlessly for any
glamorous occasion whether evening, cocktail or red carpet. Draping and
structure are signature designs for Toujouri evening wear and contrast the
billowing fun of kaftans. www.toujouri.com
Zayan The Label- Lebanese
designer Zayan Ghandour’s girly, contemporary luxury ready-to-wear
designs use premium silks and crochet knit fabrics, in vivid colours and
innovative billowing silhouettes. www.zayan.com
In addition to the catwalk
presentations, guests at Fashion Forward Season Two will be treated to The
Garden – a carefully curated selection of over 40 accessory designers who will
display an eclectic mix of bags, accessories, home ware and jewellery
which will all be available for purchase. The Fashion Forward team hand-picked
these designers from across Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Saudi, the UAE and with
some even making the journey from the United States.
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