| Barbie is named the Fashion Icon 2021, Jeremy Scott showcased Moschino’s Barbie Archive Collection. 19 International and Regional Designers were the highlight of the Shows. Inclusivity, Genderless and Unity are the headline statements. |
| Dubai, UAE: 1 November 2021 The Arab Fashion Council in strategic partnership with the Dubai Design District and in partnership with HuManagement inaugurated the fashion scene by hosting the first in-person Fashion Icon Awards, a pink carpet gala dinner and Awards ceremony which was graced by regional and international media, celebrities, and fashion industry key players and presented on stage by the new celebrity couples Cynthia Samuel and Adam Bakri. DAY ONE Lebanese superstar, Maya Diab, who was named the first Fashion Icon last year during a digital celebration from Beirut, handed the Trophy to Kim Culmone, Mattel’s Vice President of Barbie Design, after an inspirational speech and stunning performance. In tribute to Barbie, Jeremy Scott creative director of Moschino has received the Council’s Medal of Honor for Lifetime achievement followed by a fashion show presenting Moschino’s Barbie archive collection. |
| The week-long physical event has continued after the Awards ceremony with the return of the Arab Fashion Week to in-person activation, welcoming over 7000 fashion connoisseurs from around the world that united in Dubai to celebrate in-person the Spring Summer 2022 collection. The region’s most important fashion event is supported by Microsoft, GoDaddy, Etihad Airways, Aramex, Maserati, Waldorf Astoria DIFC, KIKO Milano and Schwarzkopf. Below is the daily highlight of the shows: DAY TWO Dubai based couturier, Furne One, creative director of Amato has opened the season with dramatic attention to handcraft and embroideries that embodied the DNA of the brand in two dominating colors red and black. Evening gowns and couture body suits were the most featured silhouettes on the runway. Emirati label, Euphoria, the local label which in less than a year of incubation is already selling in the major department store and online stores, has showcased a proper ready couture collection that ticks the boxes for evening wear and at the same time maintaining the technique of ready-to-wear with the strategy to enable women in having easy access to evening wear. Red carpet silhouettes, pastel colors and sequins are the main highlights of the collection. Palestinian label, Ihab Jiryis, has showcased an evening wear and bridal collection that pays tribute to high-end finishing, details, and the art of embroideries know-how. The silhouettes of the collection were dominated by the geometrical applique and volumes on the waist and shoulders that determined the DNA of the collection. Polish label, Gosia Baczynka, showcased a fusion of wearable couture in a line range composed of evening wear and lavish daily-wear. Soft colours, modern cuts using advanced technology and mix of fabric is the highlight of the shows. |
| DAY THREE Emirati designer, Yara bin Shakar, has marked her return on the Arab Fashion Week calendar as the event is back to in-person shows, with a twist to the brand’s DNA, the brand has replaced the modest wear with more focus on relaxed sleeveless cuts. Whilst the brand maintained pastel calm colors it featured also light fabric and prints. In collaboration with the Fashion Week partner, GoDaddy, Yara Bin Shakar has launched an online store utilizing all the digital innovation to reach international audience. The collaboration is documented by a digital campaign that highlights Yara Bin Shakar’s success story as an Emirati homegrown brand. Polish label, Dorota Goldpoint, has showcased a collection featuring mainly evening gowns with attention to simple cuts away from embroideries and with focus on prints. Dubai Design District based label, Autonomie founded by Egyptian creative director Maha Ahmed, has showcased for the first time on Calendar to grace the runway with an edgy vibe, a ready to wear collection, titled “Metanoia” which refers to the act of reforming, becoming new. Autonomie surprised the audience with the Aramex capsule collection that hit the runway, the looks are upcycled using shipping materials; boxes, shipping labels and tapes. The capsule looks were very synced with the rest of the collection and clearly very wearable and edgy like the young DNA of the brand. French designer, Victor Weinsanto put the sass in Alsace with his spring collection. Having worked at the elbow of Jean Paul Gaultier before launching his brand last year, Weinsanto loves runway razzle-dazzle, and everything about is just unexpected. Weinsanto left everyone on the runway filming his SS22 collection dominated by Pretzel-shaped braids propped on headbands, kooky kougelhof handbag, elements of traditional Alsace dress — including the blouse and the “corselet” all creatively curated in cabaret-tinged way, parading terrific shirt dresses with nipped waists and ballooning sleeves. The British-New York based designer Christian Cowan, who made it clear with his SS22 collection that a strong party life post Covid isn’t over has brought a playful flair to the Arab Fashion Week this year; from the party-cloth theme featuring feathers, crystals, sheers an array of unpredicted prints to the models walking down the runway who were told to “ham it up” on runway like the 90s. |
| Day Four Lebanese – Dubai based label, BLSSD, has showcased a ready-to-wear collection featuring accessible daily wear line dominated by oversized looks, maxi skirts combined with jackets, asymmetrical silhouettes and plisse mainly in black, metallic silver and white colours. A collection that definitely sells in every market. Polish label, POCA & POCA, presented the SS22 collection that aimed to bring to life exceptional creations for the charming woman, personifying her original and charismatic sense of style. From bows to pleats and ruffles, the baby pink stitch, the feminine and sweet – distinctive features which are so playful, they bring a whimsical sensation for all those who wear the creations. Colombian renowned label, GLORY ANG, has showcased “Magical Creatures” and managed to capture everything to reflect femininity, fun and sensuality; It is full of Caribbean love and expressive colors, worthy of to represent the South American country. French-Beirut based designer, Eric Ritter, creative director of EMERGENCY ROOM, has taken through his “Neverland” collection the runway to an unexpected show. The sustainable approach of the brand from upcycled fabric to inclusive choice of mannequins has been clearly reflected on the choreography, models casting, music and video. The brand casted clients, fans, and supporters to walk the runway on a voice over music track by the creative director telling the story of his beloved Beirut and the hard situation his Lebanese community is passing through describing the golden age of Beirut in the past and failed state the county is facing now, the story of being forced to leave the country and the resistance to stay. The majority of the models were those who left the country, that Eric decided to reunite on the runway at the Arab Fashion Week. |
| DAY FIVE Iraqi-Dubai based renowned designer, Zeena Zaki, has opened the last day of the Fashion Week through a recorded video to greet the audience from Costa Rica where the designer is currently at on a peace mission. Appreciating the supporters and spreading peace are the words of Zeena Zaki prior to showcasing her SS22 collection that filled the runway with glamourous evening gowns dominated by the pastel colors, simple cuts and ruffled silhouettes. Zeena Zaki’s celebrity daughter Rania Fawaz has greeted the audience at the end of the show. Manila based Pilipino designer, Michael Leyva, has showcased his SS22 collection featuring dreamy couture gowns that every woman would dream to wear on the big day or on a Cannes red carpet. Levya succeeded in featuring flashy colours on couture pieces, the colour combination and the detailed embroidery has left everyone on dazzled. American-Pilipino designer RC Caylan’s collection was the version of couture originated from the west, smart cuts, simple with more focus on the quality and art fabric rather than the embroidery were the highlight of this collection. |
| The finale of the Spring Summer 2022 edition of the Arab Fashion Week was a true celebration of creativity, inclusivity, and craftsmanship. Closing the week is the Dubai based label Michael Cinco that showcased his “Impalpable Dream of Gustav Klimt”. The runway was a true piece of art, a picturesque canvas that featured the usual savoir-faire of Cinco’s identity as well as his prints inspired collection by Gustav Klimt in collaboration with Epson that not only printed the fabric of Cinco’s collection but also the runway flooring. The show didn’t end until it stole the hearts of the audience and made everyone stand-up to applaud. Cinco has expressed his vision of beauty with the inclusivity of the models. A model with a prosthetic leg walked out in a black gown, short at the front with a long train. A second model walked out with a prosthetic arm. And a curvy model walked the runway getting an applause. The show was not only full house but 100s of fashion connoisseurs has queued to get in to fill every seat, the mezzanine and balconies. |