Four weeks of fashion

Young as well as established designers from all over the world will redefine the meaning of dressing well in Dubai

Dubai Fashion 2005 opened on Saturday with a spectacular fashion show at BurJuman.

In keeping with the One World, One Family, One Festival theme of the Dubai Shopping Festival, the show was called Celebrating Cultures and featured well-known designers from India, Pakistan and the UAE. It began with a showing of couture garments by UAE national Mira Mansouri.

Next on the ramp was an Indo-Western fusion collection from Indian designer duo Shane and Falguni, followed by a colourful ethnic collection of sarees and salwar kurtas from Pakistani couturier Naomi Ansari.

The show kicked off a four-week celebration of style that will bring to Dubai the creations of amateur and established designers from all over the world, ending in a grand finale featuring the latest collections from Christian Lacroix, Christian Dior and Jean Paul Gaultier.

"DSF is proud to organise such a prestigious event and delighted to have BurJuman as the key partner for this event. Dubai Fashion 2005 will make a major fashion statement and establish Dubai as the fashion capital of the region," said Saeed Mohammad Al Nabouda, CEO of DSF 2005.

Dubai Fashion has been a part of the Dubai Shopping Festival since 2003. It began as a week-long event featuring international designers. Young and upcoming designers were included in the event last year.

This year, designers from the region as well as international fashion brands will also participate in the fashion extravaganza, with two shows taking place almost everyday throughout the DSF.

Four themed segments

The event has been divided into four themed segments. During the first three weeks, the shows will be held at BurJuman. Indian choreographer Achala Sachdev, who is known for her innovative presentations, has choreographed these shows.

And walking on the ramp are celebrity models from all over world, such as Alessandra Alores - Miss Germany Universe 2003, Laura Romero - Miss Argentina Universe 2003 and Sayali Bhagat - Miss India World 2004. The event will then move to the One&Only Royal Mirage for the grand finale.

The first week of Dubai Fashion 2005, titled Creations, features amateur designers based in Dubai.

Seven amateur designers and a group of students from the Manipal Academy of Higher Education, a Dubai-based fashion design institute, have been given this opportunity to present their work to an international audience.

Creations opened yesterday, with models sashaying down the ramp in the creations of designers Gulzar Vijan and Hamra Alam.

Vijan, who is from India, specialises in dyeing and printing. She uses only natural dyes, lending her impeccably cut Western garments an interesting ethnic touch. Briton Hamra Alam's garments also blend Middle Eastern sensibilities with Western silhouettes and finish.

The collections of both designers are on sale today at BurJuman. All the designers participating in Creations can display their collections for sale at BurJuman the day after their show. Well-known Indian make-up artist Blossom Kochhar has also been invited to be a part of this week. She will present a demonstration of the latest bridal looks.

Week 2 and 3

The second week, titled Expressions, will focus on well-known designers from the GCC, Middle East and the subcontinent.

Jameela Al Mansoor from the UAE, Kubra Al Qaseer from Bahrain, Indian designer Satya Paul, Ziad Nakad from Lebanon and fashion houses Rouge from Pakistan and Scalini from Morocco will exhibit their latest collections at daily shows to be held between January 23 to January 28 at BurJuman.

The spotlight will then shift to international brands. With stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue now located at BurJuman, the mall has lined up an array of luxury brands for the third week titled Inspiration.

Donna Karan, Kenneth Cole, Escada, Kenzo, Burberry, D&G and Alan Manoukian are among the brands that will be seen on the ramp from January 31 to February 4.

Straight from Paris The grand finale of Dubai Fashion 2005 will take place at the One&Only Royal Mirage. From February 8 to February 10 fashion lovers will be treated to three spectacular shows featuring collections from Christian Lacroix, Christian Dior and Jean Paul Gaultier.

The haute couture ensembles from these famous ateliers are coming to Dubai straight off the ramps from Paris Fashion Week much before they will be seen on New York catwalks.