Huawei Arab Fashion Week – HAFW concludes the 3rd edition in style

The World’s only Ready-Couture platform hosted 5 days of fashion and glamour in Dubai.

Regional and international designers showcased their creations to influential audiences and key industry players.

From October 6-10 the HAFW presented a program of workshops, fashion shows, and exhibitors from around the world presenting haute and ready couture.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates – October 2016: The Huawei Arab Fashion Week (HAFW) wrapped up a star studded five days with some of the most recognised names in fashion. The biannual industry event that is presented by title sponsor Huawei and managed by the Arab Fashion Council (AFC) offerd a program of established and emerging designers who showcased their talent throughout the week. The event was attended by some of the biggest names in the industry including Caroline Rush, Chief Executive of the British Fashion Council and Cavaliere Mario Boselli, Honorary President of the Arab Fashion Council and Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana (National Chamber of Italian Fashion) who officially opened the event.

Highlights of the program included a full day introducing the first dedicated menswear shows in the region. Daily theoretical and technical workshops were also held in partnership with the American University in the Emirates (AUE) as well as designers’ showrooms and exhibitions featuring labels from around the world, and a chance to meet buyers, manufacturers and industry experts.

Returning to the event and the first headliner of the HAFW was Emirati designer Lamya Abedin, with her label Queen of Spades inspired by fairground, circus and Alice in Wonderland motifs. The program also presented labels by prominent regional designers including Sheikha Alanoud Alattiya (Qatar), Arwa Al Ammari (KSA), Aiisha Ramadan (Lebanon), and Nicolas Chahine (Lebanon), as well as international headliners Ingie Chalhoub (France), Ilse Jara (Paraguay), Cristiano Burani (Italy) amongst others. This edition of the HAFW also exclusively introduced the first Emirati model, Rafeea Al-Hajsi to the fashion audiences, who walked in Aiisha Ramadan’s show on day four. Making his Middle Eastern debut was New York celebrity designer LaQuan Smith, who lists A-listers Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez, Kim Kardashian and Rihanna amongst others within his clientele.With 23 participating designers, Huawei also presented three exclusive designers to showcase their couture creations. .Algerian born Yacine Aouadi official, member of the élite Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture in Paris and one of the 28 brands in the world to boast the official title of Haute Couture alongside houses like Chanel and Dior showcased for the first time in the UAE an original Haute Couture runway, 100% made in Paris and as seen on celebrities such as Cate Blanchett at the Oscars and more recently Rooney Mara. Our second guest Rad Hourani  showcased his UNISEX label and pop-up store throughout the duration of the event, the Paris based designer of Jordanian origin took center stage at HAFW on day two. While on the last day of the event Lebanese designer Rami Kadi who is by any mean the most innovative Arab designer on the market right now showed a retrospective in partnership with Huawei on his most technologically inspired dresses. Guests could enjoy his glow in the dark, oven-heated sequined dresses, and holographic dresses at the Huawei lounge during a VIP cocktail.

With 23 participating designers, Huawei also presented three exclusive designers to showcase their couture creations. .Algerian born Yacine Aouadi official, member of the élite Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture in Paris and one of the 28 brands in the world to boast the official title of Haute Couture alongside houses like Chanel and Dior showcased for the first time in the UAE an original Haute Couture runway, 100% made in Paris and as seen on celebrities such as Cate Blanchett at the Oscars and more recently Rooney Mara. Our second guest Rad Hourani  showcased his UNISEX label and pop-up store throughout the duration of the event, the Paris based designer of Jordanian origin took center stage at HAFW on day two. While on the last day of the event Lebanese designer Rami Kadi who is by any mean the most innovative Arab designer on the market right now showed a retrospective in partnership with Huawei on his most technologically inspired dresses. Guests could enjoy his glow in the dark, oven-heated sequined dresses, and holographic dresses at the Huawei lounge during a VIP cocktail.

Huawei Arab Fashion Week also saw special guest appearances by singer and Youtube sensation Adam Saleh, pop youth singer Harris J and American producer, rapper, songwriter, and actor, Silento, who hosted a meet and greet for fans on day four at the Huawei Arabia Lounge at the Meydan Hotel. On the final and fifth day, they performed Silento’s popular single “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)“, which reached number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 at the Red Carpet Gala Dinner FashionAwards where Saleh was recognized as ‘Best Arab Influencer’ and announced as Honorary Ambassador for HAWF.

Speaking at the Gala, Jacob Abrian, CEO and Founder of the Arab Fashion Council said, “We are proud to have witnessed this amazing line-up for the 3rd edition of The Huawei Arab Fashion Week.  Our aim is for the Arab Fashion Council to continue its commitment to support the development of entrepreneurship in the fashion industry. By representing the industry for the 22 countries in the Arab League, we are constantly studying ways to introduce ’Ready-Couture’‘to all these markets, regionally and beyond.’’

Mrs. Myriam Benaroya, Regional Marketing Director of Huawei Consumer Business Group Middle East and Africa, commented saying, “The third season of Huawei Arab Fashion Week demonstrated just how well fashion and technology can come together. The designers we presented set a new standard across the region and between Rad’s cutting-edge designs, Aouadi’s intricate textures and Rami Kadi’s technology inspired couture, we believe that the synergy between innovation and design will only continue to grow. With our Ruby Red Lady watch making its debut in the region and the Limited Edition Red and Blue P9 smartphones reflecting the runway trends, we’re confident and excited about what the future holds in store of us.”

The AFC brings together fashion, technology and design across the region and acts as an incubator, supporting young talent, and helping them develop their individual fashion brands. Its main aim is to create an effective, proven system of production now taking shape in the UAE and branching out thanks to the support of international fashion industry pioneers. Part of the Council’s mandate is to create opportunities to develop synergies with leading European manufacturers and Arab designers to develop a network of commercial connections that can give Arab talent exposure to international platforms.

Hosted at the spectacular Meydan Hotel, the HAFW aims to establish the UAE and Dubai, as the destination for “ready-couture” and the fifth fashion capital after Paris, Milan London and New York. HAFW aims to promote and realize the dreams of designers from the Arab world and beyond by providing them with an exclusive opportunity to showcase their creativity. At the same time, the mandate of the AFC looks to pave the way for international designers within the region who are looking to make their mark on Middle Eastern fashion.

Dates for the next edition to be held in March 2017, will be announced soon.

For more information please visit www.dubaifashionweek.org/www.arabfashioncouncil.com