Fashion trip: Dubai hosts floating Arabian Fashion Week

Following the huge success of Saudi Arabia’s inaugural Fashion Week last month, the company in charge of the fashion week, the Arabian Fashion Council, has announced a partnership with Dubai-based MBM Holding to create an organic fashion and retail ecosystem to encourage investment in country, and laid the groundwork for increased recognition of the ‘Made in UAE’ concept.

On board the luxurious Queen Elizabeth 2 cruise ship, now a hotel, 6^day The Arabian Fashion Week edition will be billed as “the world’s first floating fashion event”, according to its organizers.

from May 9^day – 12^daythe four-day fashion event will feature 18 designers from 13 countries presenting their latest resort, couture and ready-to-wear collections, and the event will also host a number of industry panel discussions.

Floating Fashion Week will feature some of the industry’s top designers, including Amato Couture, Simone Racioppo, Flulumae, Nocole and Felcia, and Sophia Nubes. In addition, the event will also launch the environmentally friendly brand AFC Green Label to showcase its Ready Couture collection to promote the concept of “sustainable fashion”.

Jacob Abrian, chief executive of the Arab Fashion Council, spoke to Gulf News about last month’s event in Saudi Arabia, describing it as a “unique moment in the Arab world, with retail giant Saudi The opening of Arabia has boosted the fashion profile of the region, attracting big names and bigger businesses.”

He continued, “The UAE has established itself as the fashion retail hub of the region. However, by partnering with MBM Holding, our vision is to create a central channel that brings together all the different sources from 22 countries… and transforming the city into a buyer’s market that attracts all major players…the future is in our hands and it is our responsibility to create an environment conducive to sustaining our 2030 vision, giving future designers the right foundation and the right education .”

Saeed Al Mutawa, CEO of MBM Holding, hopes the event will elevate Dubai’s fashion industry to the next level, “MBM will support the AFC in positioning the UAE as a globally viable hub in the arts and creative sector.” Sustained development of the country to create a strong and active community to compete and highlight the UAE’s wealth in our human resources internationally by supporting the export of our talent ‘Made in the UAE’ to the world,” he said.