With the fifth edition of Arab Fashion Week kicking off on November 15, Gulf News tabloid! gives you the ultimate guide to runway shows and designers to check out at the five-day fashion event.
RUNWAY SHOWS
Over 30 international and regional designers will present their creations, dedicated to Ready Couture and Pre-Collections. That’s 24 runway shows over five days.
Designers to some of the biggest names in the business will be on hand to turn up the glam quotient. Aisha Ramadan, the Lebanese designer who has a celebrity client list that includes Jennifer Lopez, Charlize Theron, Ariana Grande and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, will showcase her latest collection on November 15 at 7.30pm at City Walk.
Another celeb favourite — think Beyonce, Katy Perry, Kesha, Nicki Minaj, Shakira — Furne One of Amato Couture, will also showcase the label’s latest designs on the same evening at 10pm. This is probably one of the most coveted seats of the night.
ARAB STYLE
An Arab fashion event is not just about celebrity glamour. Designers such as the Lebanese-born Saher Dia, along with the contemporary label Louzan Fashion will offer a collection of feminine silhouettes, along with trendy abayas and sheilas.
LET’S PLAY WITH DOLLS
Mua Mua’s iconic hand-knitted celebrity dolls, made in Bali by Italian designer Ludovica Virga (Lulu), also make an appearance at AFW. Lulu has taken her dolls to Milan, Paris and New York and has presented them on the biggest stages, with a range starring Karl Lagerfeld, Lady Gaga and Anna Dello Russo, to name a few.
INTERNATIONAL NAMES
Some of the international designers to watch out for include Christophe Guillarmé, whose 2018 Spring-Summer collection offers a contemporary vision of Hollywood’s golden age. Think old-world charm inspired by an edgy Marilyn Monroe. Check out his collection on November 17 at 10.30pm at City Walk.
Also keep an eye out for Renato Balestra, the Italian genius whose client list includes the royal family of Thailand, and the former First Lady of the Philippines, Imelda Marcos, who commissioned the designer to style the wedding for her youngest daughter.
Meanwhile, Lebanese-Italian Tony Ward, whose celebrity client list includes Hollywood’s Felicity Huffman, Sharon Stone, Minnie Driver and Bollywood’s very own Katrina Kaif — who wore his stunning Beauty and the Beast inspired gown at the South Indian International Movie Awards in Abu Dhabi this year — will host his collection at City Walk on November 18 at 10pm.
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Don’t miss it!
Arab Fashion Week will take place from November 15-19, with the main stage being at City Walk.
No entrance fees, but you have to register to attend the show. Designers with a smaller collection will showcase their pieces in a presentation, taking place at the Dubai World Trade Centre and La Ville Hotel in City Walk.
