Dubai Fashion Week setting tenor for upcoming global fashion season

Muhammad Yusuf, Features Writer

Dubai Fashion Week (DFW), Dubai’s official fashion week co-founded by Dubai Design District (d3) and Arab Fashion Council (AFC), has announced its Autumn/Winter 24/25 dates (Feb. 4-8) through an eye-catching billboard in Times Square, New York. The third edition of one of the region’s defining fashion showcases returns to its residence at d3’s global creative ecosystem by TECOM Group PJSC. The upcoming Dubai programme is considered not only setting the tone for the season but for the first time, the emirate will lead the way in the global fashion calendar ahead of New York, London, Milan and Paris. With its new scheduling, DFW aims to strengthen global visibility and attendance and attract more global buyers, key opinion leaders and industry experts, say organisers. It also aims to grow collaboration opportunities with designers, with the further aim of cementing Dubai’s position as a global hub for fashion and creativity.

Khadija Al Bastaki, Senior Vice President of d3, said: “The world is really beginning to see the incredible talent, creativity, diversity and opportunity that Dubai offers the global fashion industry. In October, we set the bar for excellence high, and we are determined to follow up each edition with more outstanding, innovative and inspiring collections than the one before. We are moving our Autumn/Winter dates forward to be among the early birds in the global fashion calendar, ensuring our designers can attract and engage potential buyers and investors earlier in the fiscal year. Our commitment remains to nurture a prolific fashion ecosystem in Dubai and the wider region, providing designers from Dubai, the region and beyond, with a gateway to new markets, opportunities, and audiences.”

Naomi Campbell (centre) at Dubai Fashion Week.

Mohammed Aqra, Chief Strategy Officer of AFC, said: “The success of Dubai Fashion Week SS24 exemplifies its global appeal, bringing together talents from across the fashion spectrum. With appearances by major names such as Carolina Herrera and Naomi Campbell, the October edition garnered much interest and AW24-25 promises to be an unforgettable journey filled with inspiration, innovation, and style. I cordially invite all fashion aficionados, buyers, and media representatives to mark their calendars for February 4 to 8, 2024, and witness the evolution of fashion at its finest. By shifting the dates, we position ourselves strategically before New York Fashion Week, creating an optimal window for global visibility and buyers attendance, and we assure that we will re-meet the global buyers and industry experts again at the end of the season in Paris. We look forward to sharing more updates on the upcoming edition soon.”

Dubai Fashion Week on Times Square New York billboard.

The approaching event will present Autumn/Winter 2024-25 collections and include a dynamic, citywide calendar of high-profile fashion shows, with each designer bringing their unique vision to the runway. “Fashion enthusiasts and investors alike can look forward to exclusive events, a curated showroom, capsule launches, brand activations, networking opportunities, and insightful panel discussions,” say the organisers. The last two editions of DFW brought together international and regional buyers, media and designers for a week of style and innovation. DFW’s SS24 launched with an exclusive presentation by global luxury fashion house Carolina Herrera, with the brand’s Creative Director Wes Gordon and former Victoria’s Secret model Sarah Sampaio in attendance. It wrapped up in a flourish when global supermodel and icon Naomi Campbell walked the DFW runway for Rizman Ruzaini.d3, a member of TECOM Group PJSC, is a global creative ecosystem dedicated to design, fashion, architecture and art. Located in the heart of Dubai, it is one of the city’s lifestyle and business districts that challenges thousands of people to rethink the regular. d3 offers a variety of multi-brand boutiques, fashion brands and art and design studios. Some of the world’s leading luxury brands, design companies and creatives, including architects, interior designers, photography studios, product and fashion designers, call it home. TECOM Group caters to six knowledge-based economic sectors, including design, education, manufacturing, media, science and technology. The Group also provides industry-specialised facilities, including media production studios, laboratories and higher education campuses. Dubai headquartered AFC is the world’s largest non-profit fashion council and an INGO (International Nongovernmental Organisation) of the Arab world, representing the 22 members of the Arab League. Its vision is to build a creative economy by promoting regional designers globally.

Khadija Al Bastaki, Senior Vice President, Dubai Design District (d3).

Mohammed Aqra, Chief Strategy Officer, Arab Fashion Council.

“Our primary focus,” says the Council, “is establishing a cohesive fashion system within the region, particularly emphasising education and cultural development. This initiative promotes cultural diversity and supports the creative industry’s growth, aligning with the activities undertaken by the UNESCO office in Doha. At the forefront of our efforts, the AFC has redefined the luxury market by introducing a groundbreaking term in the fashion lexicon: Ready-Couture. This concept alone commands over 70 per cent of the luxury market share, illustrating our influential role in shaping the industry’s landscape.”Besides promoting Arab fashion designers internationally, AFC also disseminates fashion culture in the region, leveraging its local strengths to position the Arab world on the international map of fashion. It includes Arab companies and talent within the fashion industry, in particular fashion designers, models, photographers, hair stylists, make-up artists, and art directors. Likewise, it regulates modelling agencies by creating standards to protect models working in the Arab world. Finally, it regulates the schools of fashion registered under the laws of Arab countries.