October 3, 2019

The Arab Fashion Council Welcomes The 9th Edition Of The Arab Fashion Week In Collaboration With City Walk

Over 40 regional and international prominent designers from the Middle East, Europe and Asia will come together once again for the Arab Fashion Week from 9^th to 14^th October 2019 in City Walk, the design-inspired open-air lifestyle neighborhood by Meraas. The event celebrates a wide calendar of fashion shows, pop-ups, presentations and trunk shows which will be held at 1422, the world’s first Ready Couture store and the region’s first ever designer acceleration hub at City Walk.

Dhruv Kapoor, Hussein Bazaza, Daniele Carlotta and Nora Al Shaikh are four talented designers selected by Vogue Italy’s Deputy Editor in Chief and Head of Vogue Talents Sara Sozzani Maino to show their collections at the upcoming Vogue Talents Day on October 11 which will be featured by the Arab Fashion Council on this upcoming Arab Fashion Week calendar. The Vogue Talents Day will also allow upcoming designers to participate in a special portfolio review by Sara Sozzani Maino and the best designers will be awarded with a special feature on vogue.it. Sara Sozzani Maino, Vogue Italy’s Deputy Editor in Chief and Head of Vogue Talents said: “Supporting the new generation of designers through AFW is fundamental. At this stage these designers need to confront themselves with new markets In order to grow their business. The opportunity to show in Dubai is unique and we are very happy to be part of it”.

One of the main features that the Arab Fashion Council will be highlighting in this seasons calendar is the AFC Green Label initiative in line with the United Nations Global Sustainable Goals which is part of the Arab Fashion Week festival. The objective of the AFC Green Label is to promote the responsible approach to the environment by selecting ethical materials. Aiming for a better tomorrow, AFC sponsors fashion brands from around the world that fulfill AFC’s guidelines for the sustainable fashion industry.

In addition to featured private dinners, the Arab Fashion Week (AFW) will celebrate a special partnership with the Fashion TV at a final end of the season party which aims to bring the fashion week vibes to the city.

The AFW, which is among the world’s five most important fashion weeks alongside New York, London, Milan and Paris is the world’s only platform that pioneered the Ready Couture segment which has attracted renowned international designers from across America, China, Europe and Russia to establish their business in Dubai.

The Arab Fashion Week which is the first platform in the region that have introduced the See-Now, Buy-Now concept to the runway allowing the clients to buy their looks 6 months in advance, will bring back this season the traditional trunk shows into life by enabling the luxury buyers to attend a private show in an exclusive salon environment with the designers and this time in partnership with the leading bank Emirates NBD allowing the private banking elite clients to convert loyalty points into fashion coins to purchase the runway collection. Mohammed Aqra, the Arab Fashion Council’s head of partnership said: “We don’t sit and watch, but we create the desire. Together with our multinational partners, we create the need for the luxury market”.

In partnership with Meraas, this year’s calendar has become richer by extending the days until the 26th of October making the fashion week a full fledge festival in City Walk which enables retailers and luxury department stores to participate in outdoor fashion shows, trade fairs and in store events giving the shoppers the chance to take part in the event.

Sally Yacoub, Chief Malls Officer at Meraas said: “The extended dates of the fashion week present a fantastic opportunity for City Walk and many of our fashion retailers. The eagerly awaited event will also touch on the importance of Dubai as the undisputed fashion capital of the Arab world.”

The Arab Fashion Week, featured by Euro News as one of the international highly-valued events in the UAE which support the local fashion industry is worth over 50 billion euros annually in the UAE. It is designed to be a ground-breaking industry event for fashion designers in Dubai and internationally.

The AFC will leave out the traditional concepts of opening and closing shows to highlight the essence of the Calendar itself and raise awareness in the region about the legitimacy of being on the official schedule similar to the fashion Calendar in Paris Fashion Week.

“This season, we have an all-round approach that will focus on the creative economy. We’ll showcase everything at the verge of adding value to the market. Designers will have a chance to sell and boost their artistic products. We shall ensure publicity and ensure that the event attracts many visitors and tourists and this will incline the airline and hospitality industries.

Arab Fashion Week is a powerful entertainment tool that touches the economic growth in the region,” said Jacob Abrian, founder and chief executive officer, Arab Fashion Council.

This year’s edition of the Arab Fashion Week official runway events will showcase the work of high-caliber designers; such as: