Latest Update from Beirut, Dubai & Doha

First Edition of Arab Fashion Week 

Presented by title sponsor Huawei, Arab Fashion Week (AFW) was a three-day fashion extravaganza that took place at the Park Hyatt in Dubai. The event featured an international team of models, choreographers and directors aligning it with the standards of other fashion capitals in the world. Opening the first edition of AFW, Laura Mancini took to the stage presenting a refreshing and versatile Spring Summer 2016 collection followed by Abed Mahfouz who closed the first day with his exquisite runway selection. The second day saw elegant designs from the SS2016 collections of Adelina Rusu, Atelier LeonLeon, Genny, MireiIle Dagher and Sylvio Kovacic, while the final day witnessed the stunning creations from Rodrigo Otazu, Yu Jordy Fu, Giada Curti, Claes Iversen, Selphie Bong and Tiiya by Alanoud Al Attiya make their way down the runway. AFW celebrated its successful inaugural event with its closing show by guest designer Tony Ward, followed by a gala dinner.

 

 

The 94th Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe

The 94th Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe certainly lived up to expectations, lighting up the Longchamp turf in France as it does every year. All season long, the very best horses and jockeys trained hard for the most richly rewarded turf race in the world. This year, Golden Horn and Frankie Dettori took the laurels in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, relegating Trêve to fourth place behind Flintshire and New Bay. For almost a century, racegoers have reflected the event’s prestige by dressing in their Sunday best for the Arc weekend and once again this year the best-dressed spectators on the Longchamp racecourse were rewarded thanks to the Beaux Duos contest. Horses, jockeys, owners and famous faces flocked to attend the season’s most important event which had one billion television viewers and €9.2 million in prize money!  

 

 

Mouawad Creates $2 Million Fireworks Fantasy Bra for Victoria’s Secret 

As has been customary almost every year since 2001, the much-anticipated Victoria’s Secret Show featured the 2015 Fireworks Fantasy Bra designed exclusively by world-renowned luxury jeweler, Mouawad. American Angel Lily Aldridge, who has been a Victoria’s Secret model for years, sauntered down the runway in Mouawad’s bejeweled and elaborate creation. For this year’s all-new design, Mouawad went all the way combining contrasting gemstones in an urbane and timelessly glowing lingerie set that pays tribute to positive energy and joie de vivre. Valued at $2 million, the bra and matching belt took more than 685 hours of labor to be handset with 6,808 dazzling precious gems totaling 1,300 carats, including diamonds and swirling strings of blue topaz, yellow sapphires and pink quartz all set in 18-carat gold. Other models were also adorned with Mouawad’s exquisite masterpieces; the jewels, valued at $15 million, were specifically selected to complement the intricate designs and respective theme of the lingerie worn by each model.

 

Vogue Fashion Dubai Experience

The third edition of Vogue Fashion Dubai Experience (VFDE), organized by Emaar Properties in partnership with Vogue Italia and supported by the Dubai Design & Fashion Council, was held at The Dubai Mall and once again defined Dubai as a global fashion capital while also serving as a platform to promote and support emerging talents from around the world. A-list celebrities and international fashion personalities from around the world attended the event including Carla Bruni, Christian Louboutin, Silvia Venturini Fendi, Mariacarla Boscono and Eva Herzigova just to name a few. Held over two days, VFDE 2015 featured fashion shows from international emerging designers, fashion lectures by Christian Louboutin among others and several in-store activations by leading fashion outlets in The Dubai Mall. The event also hosted the first edition of ‘Who is on Next? Dubai’ – a talent scouting initiative focused on emerging designers from the Middle East, Asia and Africa. A charity gala dinner, hosted by supermodel Eva Herzigova, marked the closing of the third VFDE, which raised funds and awareness for the World Food Programme, underlining the social commitment of the fashion industry to make a positive difference to humanity.

 

 

Dubai Design Week 

The inaugural Dubai Design Week was held in partnership with Dubai Design District (d3). 

Held under the Patronage of HH Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-Chairman of Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, Design Week was also supported by both the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, and the Dubai Design and Fashion Council. Creating an opportunity to encourage the growth of the design industry in Dubai, Dubai Design Week not only established the city as the regional capital for design, but also as a global meeting point for the international design community. Design-dedicated events, activities and projects within d3 and across the city helped to celebrate the best in design both regionally and internationally. The diverse six-day program included keynote speeches, panel discussions, public performances and educational workshops that allowed all visitors – from the design professional through to the design curious – the opportunity to discover and engage with design. 

 

Palazzo Versace Dubai Now Open 

Palazzo Versace Dubai, developed in joint venture with Enshaa Group, is the most luxurious hotel the Middle East has ever seen and has now opened its doors. Artistic director Donatella Versace exclusively designed the interiors and furniture for each of the 215 rooms, bringing the universe of Versace to life. Every detail is exquisite, from the ceilings hand-detailed in gold, to the finest marbles and mosaics with iconic Versace motifs featured throughout. The grand lobby features an extraordinary 1000sqm marble mosaic floor, with bespoke furniture and textiles decorated with peacocks, falcons and horses. Palazzo Versace Dubai is also home to 169 condominiums, ranging from one to six bedrooms, each decorated and furnished in true Versace style. Situated in the heart of the city, Palazzo Versace Dubai is at the center of the new Culture Village, located on a prime waterfront plot with unobstructed views of the Dubai Creek. This is the second Palazzo Versace to be opened; the first, on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia, was the world’s first fashion branded hotel concept. Following the opening of Palazzo Versace Dubai, the next Palazzo will be built in Macau.

 

 

Katya Kovtunovich Showcases Sadou Collection at Expo Milano 2015

As part of every World Expo each participating nation is allocated a day to celebrate and showcase their country’s culture and heritage. For the UAE, successor of Expo Milano with Expo 2020 Dubai, the day was dedicated to the juxtaposition of the country’s heritage and its modern interpretation. To mark the special occasion Dubai-based fashion designer Katya Kovtunovich was invited to showcase her Sadou collection, which aims to take the bedouin heritage into the 21st century. This is a unique collection from a Russian-born designer working in Dubai and creating modern clothes using traditional Arabic fabric that appeal to women worldwide. It is also a representation of what Dubai is all about – a global mix of cultures, visions and experiences that connect minds and create a future.