The First Official Dubai Fashion Week Will Kick Off This Week

Introducing the newest addition to the global fashion circuit

As we reported a couple of weeks ago, the UAE is set to make its mark on the fashion world with the launch of the first official Dubai Fashion Week. The event, curated by Dubai Design District (d3), hand in hand with the Arab Fashion Council, is set to kick off on March 10 and run up until March 15, with more than 45 events lined up on the calendar. With a laundry list of city-wide celebrations comprised of collection launches, pop-ups, masterclasses, parties, and panel talks, Dubai Fashion Week is expected to cement the Emirate’s position as a global fashion capital and a regional hub for culture.

Launched last month at a much-anticipated event attended by high dignitaries, government officials, and members of the media, Dubai Fashion Week’s (DFW) debut will see unique spaces and locations purposefully reserved and used for catwalk shows, promising a unique blend of local culture and international trends to be enjoyed for the time of a short, yet exciting, week.

The five-day-long event is set to attract guests from all over the world to view the Fall 2023 collections from both international and regional fashion houses, mere days after Paris’ own Fashion Week.  With the participation of major industry-leading individuals, DFW aims to birth new business opportunities between talent, brands, and buyers. 

From what has been teased so far, we know that three categories of fashion will be explored, namely menswear, womenswear, and couture. Amongst some of the main names visitors of the debut event can expect to see are LateForWork, (Morocco), Lamia Abi Nader (Lebanon), Amato (UAE), Francesca Liberatore (Italy), Pressiat (France), Lama Jouni (UAE), Anomalous (UAE), and MOK (Oman). 

Talking on the first official Dubai Fashion Week, Khadija Al Bastaki, Senior Vice President of d3 said: “The world eagerly anticipates the first Dubai Fashion Week, which evolves from our successful Arab Fashion Week and is the next chapter in our region’s exciting fashion journey. To celebrate this momentous event, the industry looks to honor Dubai’s growing influence as one of the five major global fashion capitals and to feature international brands and experts from around the world to gather at Dubai Design District, the hub of our region’s creative talent and a hub with the vision, ambition, and innovation to elevate the impact and reach of creatives globally.”

Echoing on her statement, Jacob Abrian, Chief Executive Officer of the Arab Fashion Council, added: “We look forward to unveiling the new Dubai Fashion Week and see Dubai stand alongside its peers as one of the world’s leading fashion capitals. We are delighted to see the Arab Fashion Council (AFC), Dubai Design District (d3), Dubai’s major industry stakeholders, and member designers join forces to mark a historical move and unite the local fashion scene under DFW’s broad umbrella.”

For those that may not be aware, DFW is the evolution of the preexisting Arab Fashion Week which has been a prominent fixture in the region’s fashion calendar for several years now. Now taking things to the next level, Dubai is set to take its place among the world’s leading fashion capitals, attracting top designers, industry professionals, and fashion enthusiasts from around the globe.

As Dubai continues to grow and evolve, its fashion industry is sure to play an increasingly important role in the city’s economic and cultural development and with the launch of Dubai Fashion Week, the city is set to take a major step forward in establishing itself as a  capital in its own right, building on its rich history, vibrant culture, and entrepreneurial spirit.

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