A new talent scouting event, judged by some of the world’s biggest names in fashion, will be launched at the annual Vogue Fashion Dubai Experience (VFDE). Called ‘Who Is On Next Dubai’, and open to designers in the Middle East, Asia and Africa, a committee will pick top names and labels in three categories — womenswear, menswear and accessories — with winners in each getting a chance to travel to Italy and take part in fashion showcases, plus receive temporary retail space in The Dubai Mall.
The designers will be judged by a committee made up of high-profile fashion names including Naomi Campbell; Franca Sozzani, the editor-in-chief of Vogue Italia; Carlo Capasa, the CEO of fashion house Costume National; Raffaello Napoleone, the CEO of Pitti Immagine Srl, an organisation that promotes fashion in Italy; designer Christian Louboutin; Burberry CEO Christopher Bailey; designer Silvia Venturini Fendi; and Nez Gebreel, the CEO of DDFC.
VFDE is a two-day event celebrating everything fashion, held in The Dubai Mall and jointly organised by Vogue Italia and Emaar Properties. This year’s event will be on October 29 and 30 at The Dubai Mall, with the blessing of the Dubai Design and Fashion Council (DDFC) to boot.
Returning this year will be Designers Showcase, a platform for pre-selected upcoming designers to present their collections at a catwalk show, and a number of events at fashion stores in The Dubai Mall.
“Vogue Fashion Dubai Experience has achieved impressive stature globally in just two years. Today, it is much awaited by the international fashion circuit not only because of Dubai’s status as the new fashion capital but also to support and encourage next generation of fashion talent,” said Sozzani.
DDFC CEO Gebreel added: “We are pleased to be officially supporting VFDE. The event complements the ongoing efforts of the Dubai Design & Fashion Council to set clear industry standards in the fashion industry and to enhance Dubai’s design scene more generally by continuing to elevate the city’s status as a leading global fashion destination.”
For more on the event, go to vfdebyemaar.com
