Fashion Forward Dubai (FFWD), the bi-annual showcase for regional designers, returns for its 10th season on October 26 at the Dubai Design District (d3). The event will feature catwalk shows, exhibitions, expert talks and workshops across three days.
More than 29 designers, spread across apparel and accessory brands, will showcase their latest collections. Here are 11 of them who will make their debut this milestone season.
Label: Asya Krasnaya
Designers: Evgeniya Eid and Elena Baiandina
Year of establishment: 2016
Category: Womenswear
What we’re showing at FFWD: “We will bring our spring-summer 2018 collection called A Sorta Fairytale, and describes the journey from our homeland Russia to Dubai. It is divided into two themes, which reflect the interplay between industry and nature. There will be tropical colours and unique details that take us from day to night.”
Label: Amine Bendriouich
Designer: Amine Bendriouich
Year of establishment: 2008
Category: Unisex
What I’m showing at FFWD: “In 2015, I developed a collection called Ich Bin Ein Berberliner for which I envisioned a Berber tribe suddenly teleported to Tiergarten, Berlin. The current collection is an evolution from Ich Bin Ein Berberliner, diving deeper into the culture of my origins in Morocco. It explores the different elements of Berber symbolism that vary from tribe to tribe, and moves away from their traditional neon colours to a more delicate palette, in line with the fabrics chosen. This collection is called A DNA.”
Label: Anna K
Designer: Anna Karenina
Year of establishment: 2012
Category: Womenswear
What I’m showing at FFWD: “My spring collection is mostly focused on eveningwear with a more adult touch. Mesh, ruffles, body hugging dresses and a colour palette of black, white, beige, red and blue will make up the collection. I am also preparing to launch my own crypto currency, which is called Fashion Coin, based on BlockChain x ICO. The collection is devoted to this project.”
Label: Atelier Zuhra
Designers: Rayan Al Sulaimani and Ryan Pacioles
Year of establishment: 2015
Category: Womenswear
What we’re showing at FFWD: “We will introduce a parade of tulle, sequins, embroidery details, tassels and crystals, all to complement our floral and feminine theme.”
Label: Dress Addict
Designers: Artem Gryshchenko and Victor Victorov
Year of establishment: 2012
Category: Menswear
What we’re showing at FFWD: “Inspired by the Mini Cooper lifestyle, our collection combines elegance and urban lines and details. Our aim was to produce a line that is elegant and urban yet also comfortable with a sleek modern touch.”
Label: Eudon Choi
Designer: Eudon Choi
Year of establishment: 2009
Category: Womenswear
What I’m showing at FFWD: “For my spring-summer 2018 collection, I continue my architectural exploration, taking inspiration from designer Eileen Gray’s E-1027 house, a modernist haven on the southeastern coast of France. The villa, which is considered to be one of her finest works, was designed with input from her lover, the architect Jean Badovici. Gray designed the villa diffusing border constraints between architecture and decoration and celebrating the unification of creative practices. The title of the collection is, E1027, references the name of the house, a code solidifying the status of lovers, ‘E’ standing for Eileen, ‘10’ Jean, ‘2’ Badovici and ‘7’ Gray.”
Label: Joao Rolo
Designer: Joao Rolo
Year of establishment: 1980s
Category: Womenswear
What I’m showing at FFWD: “The collection is inspired by the palatial environment of the 18th century, in the small private rooms to the women, where they spent their leisure time and where they received their visits. In a romantic, feminine and very glamorous environment, pieces are inspired by the noble materials, from the lace, the pastel colours, the feathers, the embroideries of crystals, all the way to the great chandeliers that hung from the ceilings.”
Label: Kojak
Designer: Mohanad Kojak
Year of establishment: 2012
Category: Womenswear
What I’m showing at FFWD: “My collection is called Rage of Angels... It takes me to a parallel life that I only see when I’m alone, a space of my choice, full of angels and dreams. They carry me and fly me away sometimes; but then it shatter down from the realness of a world we live in.”
Label: Sara Altwaim
Designer: Sara Al Twaim
Year of establishment: 2015
Category: Womwenswear
What I’m showing at FFWD: “My latest collection is called Salam; which means peace. The symbols of a dove and bough were used to reflect the message of peace. The main inspiration came from the objective of: We wish peace for all the world.”
Label: Utruj
Designer: Laila Abduljawad
Year of establishment: 2016
Category: Womenswear
What I’m showing at FFWD: “My latest collection is called Authentic Structures and depicts stories that flirt between everyday life and those that live only in one’s imagination. Each piece is a canvas that narrates a journey from the surface of solid structures to the intrinsic cell construction of colourful patterns. These structures are shaped to reflect how we organise society. It is a visual interpretation of our current social construct; from gender roles to the qualities that mirror our inner selves.”
Label: Wael
Designer: Wael Hussain
Year of establishment: 2015
Category: Menswear
What I’m showing at FFWD: “My collection is made up of menswear looks for the urban traveller. Each of the looks are inspired by their heritage — the places they have visited, countries they have lived, and experiences they have had.”
The details:
FFWD runs from October 26 to 28 at the Design Quarter at Dubai Design District (d3). While entry to the venue is free, access to shows will be invite only. But a few passes will be made available for those registered on the FFWD website.
