Arab Fashion Week heralds new age for region

The four-day event, which starts today, will be held aboard the Queen Elizabeth 2 cruise liner

As Arab Fashion Week rolls out the red carpet today, the event marks a historical crossroads for the region’s burgeoning design landscape.

At one end, Saudi Arabia has declared it’s open for business after hosting the Riyadh edition of AFW last month; at the other end, the growing demand for Arab fashion has seen established brands such as Lanvin, Versace, Marc Jacobs and Gucci court the region’s clientele with their own stylish take on modest cuts.

Point this out to Jacob Abrian, CEO of Arab Fashion Council (AFC), which spearheads AFW and represents the design interests of 22 countries in the region, and he appears nonchalant to the growing competition on the international arena.

“The UAE has already proved itself as the fashion capital of the region, with some of the biggest names in the business setting up shop here without hesitation,” Abrian says. “Now, with Saudi Arabia emerging as a key player after last month’s fashion week in Riyadh, it is clear that the growth potential for creating a retail hub in this region is immense.”

The vision 2030 plan, as Abrian calls it, aims to bring investment, capital and even jobs to the UAE as AFC positions the country as the central nucleus for the region’s retail trade.

“Arab Fashion Council represents 22 countries in this region, and our aim is to create a local economy in the UAE that drives creative knowledge, provides collective expertise, experiences and resources that elevate the works of designers here,” he explains.

This creative fashion ecosystem will be a focus of dialogue and debate at the four-day AFW event in Dubai aboard the Queen Elizabeth 2 cruise liner, where ramp shows, panel discussions and awards will vie for the spotlight.

tabloid! picks the key players and fashion pioneers that will present their designs at the fourday event.