Can Dubai become a global fashion capital?
The city wants to sit alongside the big four fashion weeks as a globally important player. For now, it remains a regional event — but local industry stakeholders are optimistic about the future. Dubai Fashion Week (DFW) has kicked off its Spring/Summer 2024 edition with a showcase by Carolina Herrera and concluded this Sunday with Naomi Campbell walking the runway for Malaysian designer Rizman Ruzaini. Local designers and buyers were enthusiastic, but most agree DFW still has some way to go before it joins the big league. Past attempts to establish a globally relevant fashion week have failed, but Arab Fashion Week has had more success hosting 21 editions in the city between 2015 and 2022. DFW is organised by the Arab Fashion Council and Dubai Design District (D3), a purpose-built business park for creative industries.
प्रकाशित : 2 साल पहले द्वारा By Maliha Shoaib, Condé Nast, By Emily Seares, By Luke Leitch, By Sujata Assomull, By Lucy Maguire में Lifestyle
To receive the Vogue Business newsletter, sign up here.
Dubai Fashion Week (DFW) wants to make its mark on the global stage. Its Spring/Summer 2024 edition kicked off on 9 October with a showcase by New York-based brand Carolina Herrera and concluded this Sunday with Naomi Campbell walking the runway for Malaysian designer Rizman Ruzaini. Local designers and buyers were enthusiastic, but most agree DFW still has some way to go before it joins the big league.
The fashion hub of the Middle East, Dubai is renowned for its penchant for high-end luxury. It’s anchored by the iconic Dubai Mall, one of the world’s largest shopping destinations, which houses more than 1,200 retail outlets, including department stores Galeries Lafayette and Bloomingdale’s.
This is not the first time the city has set its sights on establishing a globally relevant fashion week. Past attempts — including Fashion Forward Dubai, International Fashion Week Dubai and Middle East Fashion Week — failed to leave a lasting impact. Arab Fashion Week had more success, hosting 21 editions in the city between 2015 and 2022. It was rebranded as DFW in early 2023, holding an inaugural edition for AW23 in March.
The organisers decided to forge ahead with the SS24 event despite the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war, which has led to the cancellation of many consumer–facing events across the Middle East in recent days. While none of the DFW shows were cancelled, the organisers called off the after party. Streetwear brand The Giving Movement also opted to cancel its after-show party.
DFW is organised by the Arab Fashion Council and Dubai Design District (D3), a purpose-built business park for creative industries, which is part of the United Arab Emirates-based entity Tecom Group. “In the past, there was no collective, long-term vision for the Middle East’s fashion landscape, making it challenging for a robust fashion platform to truly take off,” says Khadija Al Bastaki, senior vice president of D3. “Arab Fashion Week changed the game, becoming the region’s most consistent and credible fashion platform, with 21 editions over seven years, amplifying talented designers and inspiring collections and collaborations across the region.”
विषय: Fashion, Style, UAE