The newest edition of Arab Fashion Week will be another virtual effort due to the continued restrictions to curb the spread of Covid-19. Running from 24-28 March under the theme “Dream Big, travel beyond,” the autumn-winter 2021/2022 programme will be live exclusively on Facebook Inc platforms, Facebook and Instagram. By working in partnership with Microsoft, the Arab Fashion Council (AFC) has been able to stay in line with its strategy to provide the world with a platform through which to view and access the exceptional creative fashion talent that exists in the Middle East. The Dubai-based council is also able to continue its mission of supporting designers, during a time when they need it most.
During the event that comes one year after the first-ever digital edition, viewers will be able to shop their favourite runway looks through Instagram’s and Arab Fashion Week’s shop-the-runway e-commerce shop, www.arabfashionweek.com, with digital transformation complete courtesy of imaging partner Nikon. At the same time, those in Dubai while Arab Fashion Week is taking place can experience all the excitement through designers’ showrooms and pop-up stores.
In addition to the shows, the virtual programme will include Red Talks with industry experts talking about the fashion industry challenges and latest developments. Laura Specchio, President of the Council Commission of the Municipality of Milan, Zeina Ladki, Brand Development Consultant and founder of FLTRD Concept Store and Head of Buying at Harvey Nichols Instanbul and Doha, Banu Celikmen, are some of the go-getters set to make their marks.
Who will be showing?
The latest edition of Arab Fashion Week will feature 25 fashion designers from across the Middle East, Asia, Europe and America. Italian couture designer Antonio Grimaldi, this season's invited guest, will be making his debut. Other international names in the stellar line up include another Italian, Sophia Nubes, Polish label JAP Petelicka and Brazilian designers Andrea Conti and Sandro Barros. Palestinian Ihab Jiryis, Turkish Ezra Tuba and Jean-Charles Zakaria, a Lebanese, are some of the designers that have been roped in to represent the region. Meanwhile, Dubai-based Amato, Michael Cinco, Nohma Design, Aavva, Euphoria and Maliche will also be presenting their creations.
Plus, as part of the AFC’s Green Label initiative, three labels that place sustainability at the heart of their brands will showcase a capsule collection. British Bav Tailor, Croatian Krie Design and Italian Francesca Liberatore will showcase a green collection in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Additionally, Jordanian designer Zaid Farouki, who is living in Dubai, will offer a capsule collection capturing the theme of “Human Expression” in collaboration with BIC as Human Creativity partner of Arab Fashion Week.
And in corporation with the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode (FHCM), the organisation that plans Paris Fashion Week, five brands from the City of Lights have been selected to participate too. The designs from Heliot Emil, Germanier, Situationist, Weinsanto and Ester Manas will surely be a highlight.
"More than ever, emerging designers push the boundaries by impressing a new view on the world. They are committed on sustainability, on inclusivity and on respect. By presenting these talented labels from Paris Fashion Week® calendar in Dubai, we give them the possibility to take part of a global conversation for a better world," Serge Carreira, Head of Emerging Brands Initiative at Paris Fashion Week/ FHCM, said.
