Search is on for aspiring Emirati fashion designers

22 Mar '11

4 min read

The Dubai Ladies Club will host a fashion show at The Bride Show Dubai on 2 April to signal the opening of submissions for the fourth annual Oriental Red Carpet Emirati Designers Competition.

The highly anticipated runway show will feature designs from last year's competition winners and will take place at 6:00pm on the closing day of the four day bridal extravaganza.

Entrance to the competition is open to all local Emiratis who run fashion-based businesses from their homes. The three winning designers will gain a year of marketing support from the Dubai Ladies Club so that they can launch their business on a larger scale, in the hopes of securing a fulfilling career in the fashion industry.

This is the first year that The Dubai Ladies Club has chosen to launch the competition at the annual bridal event, which runs from 30 March to 2 April in the Sheikh Saeed Halls of the Dubai International Conference and Exhibition Centre.

Daphne Cota, Exhibition Manager of The Bride Show Dubai says that the well-trafficked event is a natural setting for an Emirati fashion talent competition.

“The Bride Show Dubai is focused on Arab fashion with an international flair. Each year established and emerging Emirati and regional designers come to the show to exhibit traditional and contemporary wedding gowns, abayas, jalabiyas and accessories.

“Many of the young Emiratis who will enter the contest have no doubt attended The Bride Show Dubai in the past, and perhaps even sought inspiration from some of the exhibiting designers.”

Oriental Red Carpet winners are chosen by a panel of judges from various factions of the fashion industry. Judges will choose three top designers in August 2011 after meeting a shortlist of 20 aspiring designers.

Fatima Al Hammdi, Events Manager of Dubai Ladies Club commented, “Our objective in hosting and organising this competition is to encourage young Emirati female entrepreneurs and designers to come forward and unveil their latest designs to an elite audience and clientele. We are confident that this year will bring to the foreground the works and talent of new and promising Emirati designers.”

Past competition winners have gone on to make waves in the fashion industry. The 2008 winner, Reem Beljafla co-founded Das Collection with her sister Hind to produce high-fashion abayas, which are now stocked in London department store Harrod's and in high-end boutiques throughout the Middle East. Das Collection will take part once again at The Bride Show Dubai this year.

Last year's winner of the ready-to-wear category, Mariam Al Mazro, who sells stylish designs under her own label, Mimi Fashion Designs, was highlighted in the latest Ahlan! Hot 100 list which recognises outstanding people in the UAE.

Al Hammadi added, “This is a fantastic opportunity for young emerging designers to showcase their creative skills, push boundaries and take fashion to another level. Since we hosted the first competition three years ago, interest has continued to grow with a record number of entries submitted for last year's competition. In 2011, we look forward to impressing our audience by introducing new talented designers with a unique and innovative style that reflects the mix of modern and oriental designs.”

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