Designers based in Dubai’s Design District have come together as part of an initiative put in place by the Arab Fashion Council.
The #AThread4Cause pledges to create 13,000 medical gowns to meet the needs of workers in the healthcare sector, working on the frontline in the fight against COVID-19.
The Arab Fashion Council has partnered with seven designers located in Dubai Design District (d3) who have agreed to use their production facilities to create protective gowns and surgical face masks for frontline medical workers in the region.
The #AThread4Cause initiative was put in place by the Arab fashion Council and it has called on local businesses to support. Seven businesses based in d3, with over 50 tailors and pattern makers, along with a number of other businesses in the UAE, will work to create the much-needed garments.
The designers have partnered with a Dubai-based Saudi Arabian fabric manufacturer who will supply over four tonnes of technical fabric to the participating brands. To facilitate the logistics, d3 is set to create a unified distribution centre to store and deliver the protective wear.
Khadija Al Bastaki, Executive Director of d3, said: “As the fashion capital of the Middle East, d3 is both humbled and delighted to support #AThread4Cause. With seven d3-based designers, we aim to aid the life-saving work of vital medical staff by contributing to the UAE’s stockpile of gowns and facemasks. d3 is well placed to be able to cater to the needs of the local population, as well as export to the rest of the world, heralded by the strong logistics and infrastructure of Dubai.”
Dubai based couture label, Michael Cinco, is among the seven d3 business partners taking part in the initiative. Michael Cinco and his business partner Sayed Ali said in a joint statement: “In exceptional circumstances such as this pandemic, it’s more important than ever to stand together. The future is not bleak and it’s crucial that we provide people with something to believe in. We need to demonstrate the sense of belonging, community spirit and light that only fashion can bring to our world. We are proud to be part of d3’s response to #AThread4Cause and believe it demonstrates the value of fashion and design in Dubai.”
Cinco is joined by couture labels, Maison Yeya, and Amato, brainchild of creative designer Furne One are among the seven. Emirati designer Yara Bin Shakar, Egypt’s Marmar Halim, Arab/American designer Zaid Farouki and women’s clothing retailer Si Fashion make up the seven-strong group.
Companies that want to enrol in the initiative and contribute positively to the UAE’s efforts to curb coronavirus and protect the vital medical professionals across the country can apply through the Arab Fashion Council’s website.
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