Old and new come together at Dubai Fashion Week

There's a new face spearheading the forthcoming Dubai Fashion Week spring-summer 2012 extravaganza: Australian fashion export Simon Lock is taking charge as its creative director. This season's designer line-up, however, is filled with familiar names.

Dubai's rising fashion phenomenon Furne One, on the speed-dial of Hollywood stars Katy Perry and Jennifer Lopez, is one of the star attractions of the five-day event beginning October 20 at the World Trade Centre, it was announced on Wednesday. He will be joined by DFW regulars Amber Feroz, Meher & Riddhima, Abeer Al Suwaidi, Sakina Mohsin and Jaya Misra. Read tabloid's interview with Furne One

"I will be showing on the last day — the final show before the charity event. I couldn't participate last year because I was away in LA, but I am excited to be back," One told tabloid!. The perception of the local fashion week, which has come under fire for its poor show, does not worry him either.

"My clients are 100 per cent Arab and local people. They come to my show and are happy to place orders. Dubai Fashion Week has always helped me and I felt bad that I couldn't participate last season," said One, who recently dressed rapper Nicki Minaj at the MTV Video Music Awards.

Meanwhile, Australia Fashion Week founder Lock told tabloid! that he is aware of the scepticism surrounding the local fashion week and is working towards raising the bar.

"I am aware that Dubai Fashion Week — up till this point — has been fairly disappointing. And the new owners sort of recognised that and believed that they need to bring in people who have experience in establishing fashion weeks. That's where I come in," said Lock.

He added that efforts have been made to step up production values on runways and overall quality such as bringing in models with global exposure. Several changes, including an opening ceremony on October 19 and a charity event on October 24, have been added in the roster of events.

The line-up

• Aarshika
• Amber Feroz
• Barjis
• Cartas
• Dabya
• Furne One
• Jaya Misra
• Jelin George
• Maisha Creations by Mehwish Afzal
• Malak El Ezzawy
• Mapxencars
• Mumbai Se
• Meher & Riddhima
• Nabrman
• Riimple and Mayyur Girotra
• Sakina Mohsin
• Shrekahnth
• USH DESIGN by Abeer Al Suwaidi
• Wafa Al Kathiri
• Zori Couture