Aiming to put Dubai on the international level of Fashion weeks, the Vogue Fashion Dubai experience 2015 organised by Emaar Properties in partnership with Vogue Italia and supported by the Dubai Design & Fashion Council hosted a catwalk Fashion show highlighting fashion designers. All means were deployed to make of this event a real success. The event witnessed a catwalk Fashion show presented by eight international designers, showcase of collections for emerging talents displayed for the «Who is next» selection, fashion lectures by global fashion experts like Christian Louboutin, Founder & CEO of Louboutin; Miroslava Duma, Founder of Buro 24/7; and Silvia Venturini Fendi, Creative Director for Accessories & Men’s Lines & President of Alta Roma.
VFDE 2015 was highlighted by the first edition of Who is on Next? Dubai, a talent scouting initiative mainly focused on emerging designers from the Middle East, Asia and Africa. Twenty-five talented designers have been selected to showcase their collection during the event. Further, to strengthen a culture of fashion education, VFDE 2015 featured Fashion Lectures hosted by the leading names in fashion. The Fashion Lectures were held on Friday, October 30, from 3pm to 6pm at Fashion Avenue in The Dubai Mall with sessions led by Christian Louboutin, Founder & CEO of Louboutin; Miroslava Duma, Founder of Buro24/7; and Silvia Venturini Fendi, Creative Director for Accessories & Men’s Lines & President of Alta Roma. The sessions were moderated by Jessica Michault, Editor-in-Chief of Nowfashion.
The Catwalk Fashion show. Encouraging and promoting new talents has always been a priority for the Vogue Fashion Dubai Experience, and the eight international designers selected for the 2015 fashion show are exceptional examples of a new generation of global promise.
Who is on Next? The 25 talented designers chosen are: Absence, Adriaan Kuiters, Jody Paulsen, Anita Quansah London, Beyond Closet, Brother Vellies, Byungmun Seo, CA&LOU, Cynthia & Xiao, Dent de Man, Elio Abou Fayssal, Faissal El-Malak, Hussein Bazaza, J Moon, Jourden, Maryam Omaira, Matter Matters, max.tan, MaXhosa by Laduma, Nathalie Trad, Sindiso Khumalo, sulvam, Susana Traça, Ujoh, Yirantian and Youjia Jin. Their collections were evaluated by a panel of globally renowned fashion experts.
The Catwalk Fashion Show at the Fashion Avenue of The Dubai Mall showcased the collections of eight international designers who have been selected from across the world. The chosen designers included: Studio One Eighty Nine, The Kayys, Reem Al Kanhal, Arthur Arbesser, Krikor Jabotain, Melitta Baumeister, Xiao Li and L72.
Krikor Jabotain
Atelier Krikor Jabotain was founded by Krikor Jabotain when he was just 23. A talented designer who started his professional career as a member of Elie Saab’s creative department just days after he graduated from l’Ecole Supérieure des Arts Techniques de la Mode in Beirut, Lebanon, Krikor’s independent career began when his elegant designs were selected and showcased by Starch, a non-profit organisation founded by Maison Rabih Kayrouz.
Arthur Arbesser
Born and raised in Vienna, Austria, Arthur Arbesser is internationally known as one of the most promising new designers in the Milanese panorama. He studied fashion at Central Saint Martin’s College in London. Upon graduation, he moved to Milan to work for Giorgio Armani, where he stayed for more than seven years. During Milan Fashion Week in 2013, Arthur launched his namesake women’s wear label; in June 2015 he was part of Pitti Italics project at Pitti Uomo.
The Kayys
The three well-known Qatari sisters -Hend, Ghada and Maha AI Subaey- are the designers behind The Kayys. Founded in 2011, the brand aims to create exceptionally beautiful and utterly modern garments that reflect the sisters own personalities, style and Middle Eastern heritage. Making waves at a regional level, the brand has also made significant international inroads by having a strong celebrity following that includes Gwen Stefani, Olivia Palermo and Hanneli Mustaparta
Melitta Baumeister
A German designer based in New York City, Melitta Baumeister graduated from Parsons The New School For Design with a Masters in Fine Arts. Not long after, she launched a women’s wear line under the Vfiles platform during New York Fashion Week. Celebrities such as Rihanna and Lady Gaga have also worn her designs. Her collection is currently sold by DSM New York, London and Ginza, and her business continues to spread internationally.
Reem Al Kanhal
Saudi Arabian designer Reem AI Kanhal has always believed that fashion is more about how it makes a person feel inside than an apparent aesthetic. From ladylike skirts and dresses to flowing pants and tops.
L72
English-born, Lee Wood showed his interest for fashion and design after graduating from Berkshire College, London, with a diploma in art and design. After 16 years of working alongside Donatella Versace, Lee decided to give life to his own personal aesthetic with L72, a label that plays with minimalism while merging street wear elements with the sartorial tradition to create a contemporary look rigorously made in Italy.
Xiau Li
Chinese designer, Xiao Li studied fashion at the Royal College of Art and at the London College of Fashion. A knitwear specialist, she has worked with acclaimed designers such as J.W. Anderson, Alexander McQueen and Anya Hindmarch. ln 2013 she won the prestigious International Talent Support Award that included a temporary work experience at Diesel. Her work has been showcased at various fashion weeks, including Hungary and London. Most recently she was selected as a finalist for the LVMH Fashion Prize 2015.
Abrima Erwiah
Created by award-winning actress Rosario Dawson and the multi-talented Abrima Erwiah, Studio One Eighty Nine is a social enterprise launched in support of V-Dav’s One Billion Rising that helps promote African and African-inspired content through fashion while creating opportunities that empower women by providing opportunities for education and employment.
