Flavours of Dubai - Fashion

With Dubai now firmly entrenched in the mindscape of the swish set, its fashion scene has become more mature and cosmopolitan .Unlike the fashion industry in London and Paris; Dubai’s fashion industry does not have a distinct identity of its own. In Paris, you will witness the finest couture collections while in London you get to see open -minded creativity at its best visible in its funky street wear. These distinct identities lend a clear purpose and focus to the fashion weeks conducted in these places. However, in Dubai, the fashion scene is radically different as it caters to buyers from a cross section of cultures with vastly different tastes and preferences.

It’s hard to ascribe an adjective to describe the couture scene in Dubai; most designers have contrarian views on this which gets reflected in the Dubai Fashion Week held each year. The increasing participation of cutting edge design houses and multi-brand retailers reflects the immense potential which the event has. It would be a good idea if you schedule your next holidays in Dubai to coincide with the Dubai Fashion Week that has gained a lot of momentum in recent times and has emerged as a platform not only for showcasing the region’s latent potential but also to forge long lasting partnerships with global fashion brands. One can see the convergence of latest fashion trends and styles at this event that is sure to be an eye-opening experience.

In 2009 the grand finale of the Dubai Fashion Week (DFW) was conducted at the Madinat Jumeirah Arena Ballroom under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Hind Bin Maktoum Bin Juma Al Maktoum – wife of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice-President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. The central theme of the show was decidedly African with composer Ladysmith Black Mambazo’s voice playing in the background as models sashayed down the ramp to the beat of pulsating African music. The star attraction of the show was the collection showcased by high -end multi-brand retailer Etoile La Boutique which captivated the audience with its exciting range of trendsetting creations. If you missed the action last time around, don’t despair, the event will be back next year with more fun and excitement in store. Call your travel agent to book an exciting holiday deal to Dubai for your next holiday which should coincide with the DFW or else you will miss out on the fun again.

Commenting upon the current fashion scenario in Dubai most designers felt that a lot more could be done to promote local design studios and the event should get more comprehensive coverage in the international press.In retrospect, it seems surprising as to how Dubai’s famed PR machinery did not get its act together in DFW 2009 to get the event the visibility it deserved. Hopefully, they will do a better job at the Dubai Fashion Week 2010.