Fashion News | International Fashion Legend, Erdem, Is Coming To Dubai

International Fashion Legend, Erdem, Is Coming To Dubai ...

There are many designers that regularly swing by the sandpit to say hello, but when it’s one that’s as high-profile as Erdem Moralioglu, and when it’s his first ever visit to Dubai, we get a little bit more excited than usual.

Courtesy of the wonderful folk at Harvey Nichols-Dubai – and to celebrate him creating a super-exclusive dress just for their 10th anniversary – the half-Turkish, half-British, Canadian-born, London-based designer is coming over on March 23, and customers will get the opportunity to make an appointment to meet him.

They’d be in good company, too, since he’s dressed everyone from SJP to Kate Middleton, and Diane Kruger to Kate Bosworth in his inimitable pieces – think a hefty penchant for lace, florals, delicate textures and a demi-couture feel, but all underlined with a powerful femininity.

Erdem is so powerful within the fashion industry, that in just 10 short years he’s managed to capture the hearts of a pretty definitive cross-section of strong, modern women, winning multiple awards along the way. In 2014 he won the British Fashion Awards’ Womenswear Designer of the Year Award, the year before that taking home the Red Carpet Award, and the one before that the New Establishment Award.

As such it’s no surprise, owning a piece of Erdem is a must for any fashionista. Hence our excitement then that the designer has exclusively eight dresses (of the same design) exclusively for the region. The dresses (Dhs13,995) will go on sale in Harvey Nichols-Dubai on March 23, and we can’t imagine they’ll be sticking around for long. While the dress design is under embargo we can reveal it is midi length, sleeveless, has tiered ruffles, and is a gorgeous blue floral print.

If you don’t get a chance to buy one of the exclusive dresses, Harvey Nichols-Dubai are also carrying a pretty sweet selection of Erdem’s spring/summer 2016 collection in store, too. Ladies, we’ll see you there.

Credit: emirateswoman.com

Fashion News | Abaya designers shine at Modern Woman show in Dubai

Niche fashion labels, beauty demos and catwalk shows were the highlights of the Modern Woman Show held at the World Trade Centre in Dubai over the weekend. Three of the best exhibitors talk about their designs.

Best Emirati designer

Fatima Al Qassimi, founder and creative director of Distinctive

Jalabiyas and abayas

“My label was established in May. I was first inspired by fashion a long time ago. I used to design for myself and would receive compliments about the pieces I was wearing, which was encouraging, so I decided to develop a line. My first collection was calligraphy-themed [dresses and jalabiyas], and I then designed more abayas [in black with jewel embellishments].

“As an Emirati, I’m proud that Arabic is my first language – and since His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum declared 2016 as the year of Arabic language, I thought why not embrace it through my designs? And yes, inshallah, in the future I will continue to work more with calligraphy. It’s unique and it attracts so many people, especially westerners.”

Evening wear, wedding dresses, abayas reminiscent of Chanel’s quilted and pearl look

“Famed fashion designer Gabrielle Chanel changed the history of women’s clothing, from the jacket to the skirt. All of our cuts, like hers, are workable for everyday. I’m designing mostly for clients from the GCC – I have many Emirati clients.

“My collections are also season-less, meaning that every month I’ll bring out five to 10 new pieces. During Ramadan and Eid, I’ll produce up to 30 designs in a collection. And every month we have sales to make way for the new lines, so our ‘seasons’, if you like, are very fast.

“My basis was art, and it was my primary area of study in China. After a time, I had to select a major and I chose fashion design. As much as I love pure art, it’s hard to survive as an artist.

“So, I started designing party dresses and launched first in Ajman, then expanded to Sharjah and Dubai. You can see that our abaya cuts are haute couture, with that ‘party’ influence.

“I’ve been here 15 years. I converted to Islam and I married an Emirati, so there was also a personal need for me to design abayas, joining fashion, tradition and religion – all three elements together.”

Fashion News | JELENA BIN DRAI INTRODUCES 2016 COUTURE COLLECTION

Jelena Jakovljevic Bin Drai has released her Spring/Summer 2016 couture collection under the label JELENA BIN DRAI, encompassing 26 elegant gowns inspired by the beauty of the winter desert. The feminine dresses reflect sunlight rising over sand dunes and the inky darkness during majestic desert nights.

The mainly monochromatic colour palette sees crisp white and deep black contrast with flashes of metallic, offsetting the simplicity to reflect sunlight kissing the horizon. Representing the juxtaposition between day and night, flirty pleated frocks contrast with sophisticated full length silhouettes, which sit playfully off-the-shoulder and gather at the waist. Sheer backs and modern cutout panels add a touch of playful glamour to the collection.

Sequin embellishment pays homage to the flickering moonlight, whilst lines of delicate metallic embroidery allude to the contours of the sand at the magical hour of dusk. Pure silk, crepe and organza lend a sumptuous richness whilst the addition of baguette cut crystals offer an exquisite shimmer, highlighting the mystical depth of the desert.

Cementing the label’s status as the go-to for glamorous yet modest eveningwear, the elegant collection perfectly encapsulates the hypnotising draw of nature’s beauty.

Fashion News | VOGUE Fashion Dubai, Catwalk, The Dubai Mall

Thursday October 29 

7:00 PM 

Fashion Catwalk, The Dubai Mall 

In The Dubai Mall (which welcomed 80 million visitors in 2014) eight of the most talented international designers on the fashion scene will be presenting their collections. The brands on the catwalk will be: Arthur Arbesser, Austria; Krikor Jabotian, Lebanon; L72 by Lee Wood, UK; Melitta Baumeister, Germany; Reem Al Kanhal, Saudi Arabia; Studio 189 by Rosario Dawson and Abrima Erwiah, Ghana / USA; The Kayys by Hend, Ghada and Maha Al Subaey, Qatar and Xiao Li, China.

credit: vfdebyemaar.com

Fashion News | Global fashion legends to headline 3rd Vogue Fashion Dubai Experience at The Dubai Mall from October 29 to 30

Organised by The Dubai Mall and Vogue Italia and under the umbrella of Dubai Design & Fashion Council, the event continues to position the city as a global fashion destination 
- An unmatched two-day celebration of emerging and high-end fashion and lifestyle events 
- Fashion Talks led by renowned fashion designers and icons; free registration for public 
- First edition of ‘Who Is On Next Dubai’ – scouting contest for fashion designers from the Middle East, Asia and Africa 
- International fashion brands participate with exclusive in-store activities held at The Dubai Mall 

Dubai, UAE: The world’s who’s who of fashion will once again descend on Dubai for what will be a spectacular celebration of fashion and emerging designer talent at the 3rd edition of Vogue Fashion Dubai Experience, the largest of its kind fashion event in the Middle East, to be held at The Dubai Mall. 

The flagship fashion event of Emaar Properties, organised in partnership with Vogue Italia, the event continues to position Dubai in the premier league of global fashion destinations. Held over two days, October 29 and 30, 2015, the event is organised with the support of Dubai Design & Fashion Council, which was established to continue to strategically develop and position Dubai as a world-leading and credible fashion destination. 

The 3rd edition of Vogue Fashion Dubai Experience will again host an exclusive Designers Showcase organised by The Dubai Mall, BySymphony.com and Vogue Italia, to identify the next generation of fashion creative talent. 

This year Vogue Fashion Dubai Experience will also present the first edition of ‘Who Is On Next Dubai,’ a scouting contest open to all fashion designers from the Middle East, Asia and Africa. The contest is divided in three categories - womenswear, menswear and accessories – with the winners from each category chosen from a globally renowned committee. The finalists will have the opportunity to win prizes in 2016 including a fashion show in Pitti Uomo in Florence, Altaroma in Rome, invitation to thevoguetalentscorner.com during Milan Fashion Week and the opportunity to retail in a temporary store in The Dubai Mall and on Yoox Premium e-commerce platform. Some of the key committee names across the fashion industry will include: Carlo Capasa, Raffaello Napoleone, Silvia Venturini Fendi, Franca Sozzani, Federico Marchetti, Salama Alabbar, Christopher Bailey, Christian Louboutin, Nez Gebreel, Noura Binzagr, Naomi Campbell, Godfrey Deeny, Seda Domaniç, Hanneli Rupert, Priya Tanna and Ritu Upadhyay. 

As in the past editions, a fashion show featuring emerging international and regional designers selected by Vogue Italia, will take centre stage at The Dubai Mall’s Fashion Catwalk. Exclusive in-store activations by hundreds of participating retailers, live music and other lifestyle events will also be part of the high profile fashion experience. 

Natalie Bogdanova, Senior Director, Business Development & Operations, Emaar Malls, said: “The 3rd edition of Vogue Fashion Dubai Experience promises another amazing celebration of fashion and support of emerging fashion talent. In addition to welcoming fashion enthusiasts from around the world and presenting the latest style trends, the event serves as a true facilitator of emerging and undiscovered talent, underlining how Dubai is at the forefront of fostering the next generation of international fashion designers.” 

Franca Sozzani, Editor in Chief of Vogue Italia, said: “Vogue Fashion Dubai Experience has achieved impressive stature globally in just two years. Today, it is much awaited by the international fashion circuit not only because of Dubai’s status as the new fashion capital but also to support and encourage next generation of fashion talent.” 

Nez Gebreel CEO, Dubai Design & Fashion Council, added: “We are pleased to be officially supporting Vogue Fashion Dubai Experience. The event complements the ongoing concerted efforts of the Dubai Design & Fashion Council to set clear industry standards in the fashion industry and to enhance Dubai’s design scene more generally by continuing to elevate the city’s status as a leading global fashion destination. We are confident that the 3rd edition of Vogue Fashion Dubai Experience will play a key part in taking Dubai’s fashion credentials to the next level, by hosting some of the very best local and international talent, and by driving insightful discussion and networking among the world’s who’s who in the fashion industry.” 

The second Vogue Fashion Dubai Experience, in 2014, welcomed over one million visitors across 3 days. In-store activities organised by over 200 fashion retailers in The Dubai Mall also contributed to the significant boost in footfall, further underlining The Dubai Mall’s credentials as the ultimate destination for luxury shopping. 

The fashion show was a resounding success and attendees witnessed a creative presentation of the S/S 2015 collections of eight talented international designers. A charity dinner gala was also hosted by Vogue Italia and Emaar raised almost AED 4 million towards World Food Programme, and highlighted the role of the fashion industry in making a positive difference to humanity. 

Celebrities who attended the event included Janet Jackson, Ciara, Latifa, Elissa, Lira, Soko, Lola Lennox, Franca Sozzani, Philipp Plein, Roberto Cavalli, Peter Dundas, Alberta Ferretti, Emmanuelle Seigner, Elisa Sednaoui, Farida Khelfa, Afef Jnifen, Ali Mustafa, Liya Kebede, and Lily Cole. 

Vogue Fashion Dubai Experience also featured the International Talents Showcase, which served as an exclusive stage for 20 upcoming designers, selected by Vogue Italia and The Dubai Mall through a scouting contest. The showcase reported robust interest from buyers and retailers for the collections and several potential leads for business and marketing collaborations. 

The Fashion Talks 2014 were led by international designers and fashion icons and saw huge crowds eager to gain insights into the fashion industry. Speakers included: Franca Sozzani, Roberto Cavalli, Peter Dundas, Philipp Plein, Alberta Ferretti and Sara Maino. The talks were moderated by fashion journalist JJ Martin. 

The Dubai Mall, world’s most visited shopping and entertainment destination, welcomed over 80 million visitors in 2014. In addition to the 1,200 retail outlets, the flagship asset of Emaar Malls has over 200 F&B outlets and world-class leisure attractions. The Fashion Avenue at the mall has the largest collection of high-end brands under one roof and is currently being expanded by 1 million sq ft built-up area to welcome more than 150 new luxury brands. - See more at: http://www.vfdebyemaar.com/en/media-centre/june30-vfde15.aspx#sthash.fRI3JMoJ.dpuf

Vogue Fashion Dubai Experience to return to The Dubai Mall in October

Vogue Italia and The Dubai Mall have teamed up again for the third edition of the Vogue Fashion Dubai  | Experience and rumour has it that supermodel | Naomi Campbell is one of the celebrity guests. Under the umbrella of the Dubai Design & Fashion Council | the two-day style extravaganza will feature a series of catwalk presentations, industry talks and lifestyle events. Numerous shops within the biggest mall in the world are also expected to participate through special promotions or live entertainment for shoppers.

for more information please contact: gohar@al-borj.com | www.al-borj.com