Dubai Fashion Week® (DFW), the Middle East’s leading fashion trade event, is once again set to turn the spot light on the region’s young and emerging designers. Now in its 9th season, the bi-annual Emerging Talent showcase is back and bigger than ever with over 50 final applicants from across Middle East!
Deborah Nsimcox
With excitement building amongst participants, the final selection took place yesterday 23rd February 2011. The winning 6 young designers are: Sophie Wanney, Sara Al Refai, Azadeh Zandi, Anna Gurgacz, Kay Li and Sarah Mrad. They will be provided with an unrivalled opportunity to unveil their collection to fashion connoisseurs, buyers, media and followers from around the region via an exclusive collection showcase at DFW Fall/Winter 2011 (FW11), scheduled to take place from 27th – 31st March.
Rohit Sabikhi, Event Director, Dubai Fashion Week said, “We were delighted by the high level of enthusiasm and hugely positive response we have received from applicants. The number of submissions is indicative of the region’s fashion awakening. As the organisers of DFW, we are committed to fostering and developing young, talented designers from around the region and this showcase is the perfect forum to do so.”
Nova Krishnan
The competition will be judged by the DFW Advisory Board that consists of prominent personalities in the fields of journalism, retail, fashion design and the corporate sector. These include Rohini Gehani, Sarah Belhasa, Ayman AlSaleh, Zayan Ghandour, Etedal Al Khatib, Eva Jeanbart-Lorenzotti, Bushra Yousuf, Hassa Jamal Al Ghurair and Amel Khalifa Ahmed Hammad.
With Emerging Talent being the only initiative of its kind in the UAE, Rohini Gehani, Advisory Board member stated, “The increased number of applicants this season highlights the demand for such an avenue. Emerging Talent is an important part of all international fashion weeks and is the perfect launch pad for young and emerging designers. I look forward to seeing the designers make their debut during DFW FW11.”
Sachin Gada
Initially established in 2006, the Emerging Talent competition was fashioned to showcase the work of talented amateur designers, hailing from the UAE and rest of the Middle East. For designers who have only dreamed of seeing their designs on a runway, this competition provides an unparallel window of opportunity. From students to existing fashion designers looking for exposure in the vibrant fashion industry, the competition is an opportunity for industry experts to get a front row preview into some of the region’s hidden talent.
As testament to the success of the competition, Emerging Talent winners from previous seasons, Rabia Z, Nasrine Dechache, Samah Ali, and Arshiya Khan will be presenting their collections on the catwalk.
Manoj Bhojwani, Chairman, Dubai Fashion Week and Chairman, Capital Marketing added, “The Middle East is home to a huge pool of talented designers that are looking for an opportunity to showcase their work. It is important for us as the DFW organisers to support local and young designers development by providing them with opportunities to showcase their designs to industry professionals, bringing them much needed recognition. For me personally, the Emerging Talent showcase is a symbolic reflection of DFW’s unwavering commitment to discover and support hidden talent from the region.”
Samah Ali
