Update your wardrobe this Ramadan with a pop-up fashion market at The Fashion Catwalk, in The Dubai Mall, until June 25. The pop-up supports local and home-grown fashion talent so the market will spotlight collections from eight talented regional designers.
Arwa Al Banawi
Saudi designer Arwa Al Banawi grew up in Jeddah but spent a large part of her childhood in Switzerland. Arwa began her journey into fashion as a blogger in her hometown and in 2012 moved to Dubai, launching her debut collection of versatile, androgynous tailored suits and separates in 2015. The eponymous label’s inspirations stem from a mixture of classic, contemporary and emotional ideas; inspirations include the iconic Audrey Hepburn, street art and jazz music in Miami, and the psychoanalysis of the human’s personality.
At A Glance
At A Glance creates clothes that contain the perfect fusion of both classic and feminine details. Each piece is finely crafted with a focus on texture, embroidery and cut. The designs blend ideas inspired from different times and experiences, creating a collection with a story behind every piece. At A Glance pieces are constructed with attention to detail and the aspiration of being timeless.
Chantal Designs
Swedish-Lebanese designer Chantal Assaad is the founder and creator of the ready-to-wear line Chantal. Her aim is for every woman who wears her designs to stand out and feel confident and unique. After graduating from the French school of Fashion Esmod, Chantal launched her first collection of handbags in 2009 consisting of travel bags, clutches and shoulder bags. Her first ready-to-wear collection launched in 2010. The brand takes inspiration from the differences between East and West, as a juxtaposition, to create simple silhouettes that can be taken from day to night by the simple addition of key accessories.
Dima Ayad
Dima Ayad is a young Lebanese fashion designer based in Dubai. She established her eponymous label in April 2010. Her clothes are a celebration of the female form, regardless of shape or size. The autumn/winter 2011 collection was shown off-schedule at London Fashion Week, which led to her designing a capsule Prom collection for Saks Fifth Avenue.
Fetha
Brought together with their unique skill sets and the sheer joy of creating new fashion, Manal Al Sharhan and Neetu Mulani started Fetha Couture in the Summer of 2013. Fetha, pronounced “feh-dha”, means ‘silver’ and Fetha Couture embodies the universal and reflective nature of this ancient element. At its core, Fetha Couture symbolises simplicity and fuses traditional patterns and embroideries with contemporary dresses, tops, trousers, kaftans and jalabiyas.
HF By Hessa Al Falasi
Hess al Falasi graduated with a fashion degree from Zayad University, Dubai, establishing HF Boutique in 2011. As a designer Hessa Al Falasi is largely influenced by a contemporary mix of old world charm and elegant sophistication. This is the essence of the HF brand and is clearly reflected in her gracefully flowing designs. Traditional abayas are given a modern twist with a variety of high quality fabrics and a kaleidoscope of colours. Each garment is the result of a long and rigorous artisanal savoir-faire that creates the ultimate experience in Middle Eastern chic.
Twisted Roots
Twisted Roots designer Latifa Al Gurg was born in Dubai in 1981. She began her working life in the construction industry but decided to follow her passion for design after she identified a gap in the market for high quality everyday clothing for travel. She created her own brand, Twisted Roots. Today she applies her love for urban design to her collections that are always inspired by a different city. Considered a rising Emirati entrepreneur in the fashion industry, Latifa has taken her obsession with finishing to another level and operates her own factory in Al Quoz where she utilises internationally sourced custom fabrics to create ready-to-wear lines that are practical yet stylish for the woman on the go.
On June 16 – 25 from 10am to 2am at The Fashion Catwalk, The Dubai Mall. For more information, please visit The Dubai Mall Facebook pages or call 800-DUBAI-MALL (800 38224 6255).
