Fashion Forward (FFWD), a UAE based fashion movement that provides a platform and a progressive direction for fashion for the region, held its Season Two during the 15th to the 18th of October at Madinat Jumeirah, as part of the official celebrations for Eid in Dubai. Sponsored by iconic brands, including Audi, Mac, L’Oreal and Koko Nails. Fashion Forward. As the most significant fashion event for the entire region, guests included the fashion community from around the Middle East.
“We are proud to launch our second season of Fashion Forward, and honoured that so many members of the fashion community will be spending part of their Eid holidays with us celebrating and supporting the finest in Middle Eastern design talent,” said Bong Guerrero, Founder and CEO of Fashion Forward.
The program included 21 runway shows for 23 designers, 15 discussions and talks with regional and international fashion influencers, experts and bloggers and a garden bazaar where over 50 regional local established and emerging designers were selling accessories.
Designers showcasing their latest Spring/Summer ’14 collections on the catwalk included Reem Al Khanal from Saudia Arabia; House of Fatam, Essa and KAGE from the UAE; Endemage from Oman and Charbel Zoe from Lebanon. The audience witnessed a range of different looks, matierials and styles during the shows-whimsical and playful from Zayan The Label, edgy and daring from Essa, bright and elaborate from The Emperor 1688 to brilliantly constructed pieces of art from Amato By Furne One.
The vision of Fashion Forward is to nurture growth within the industry and the talks and discussions were held in collaboration with the Dubai Design District (d3) to further foster debate, discussion and dialogue between the key players in the fashion industry. International fashion experts including Ben Malka, Chairman and CEO of Halston, Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) member and the Dean of Parsons The New School For Design, Simon Collins and Ascia AKF the Kuwaiti fashion blogger were amongst those who participated in the talks and shared their experiences and knowledge with the audience.
The Garden Bazaar was a designated space for upcoming and established regional designers to sell their clothes, accessories and other fashion items to the public. Some of the most popular vendors included Sarah’s Bag from Lebanon, calligraphy jewelry from Bil Arabi, a multi-brand concept store Two Scoops and the handcrafted rag dolls with Karmic Goodness by Dumye . One of the hottest items in the bazaar were the boho-chic gold dipped headpieces by the Lebanese designer Carolina Chammas for her brand AURA Headpieces.
Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdales and Boutique 1 were amongst the 50 regional and international over 50 regional and international buyers in attendance during the four days.
Fashion Forward was a huge success and definitely an event that firmly established Dubai as a fashion capital on the global map.
For more information, check out their website.
-Saira Malik
