Designers take their hats off to Burj Al Arab

Hats inspired by the magestic Burj Al Arab hotel were just some of the hot new fashion items brought by a group of British designers to Dubai.

The hats, designed by London's Rachel Skinner Millenery, were displayed alongside other new designs from British fashion houses yesterday at the Dubai Ladies Club.

London's 10 leading fashion houses are visiting Dubai during the World Cup week to promote their creations.

The 10 fashion houses Bellville Sassoon Lorcan Mullany, Jean Muir, J. Valas Couture, Tristan Webber, Shi Cashmere, Yono, Rachel Skinner, Gwendolyn Carrie, Courtezan and JB Couture Ltd. will showcase their latest creations.

"There is no other building in the world like Burj Al Arab. Fashion is about uniqueness, so I designed and crafted 30 different hats inspired by this architectural icon in Dubai," said Rachel Skinner, who is visiting Dubai for the first time.

Skinner, who studied at the London College of Fashion, said the group brings exciting new ideas that characterise London's new breed of designers.

Allistair Burroughs, managing director for luxury wear and accessories maker Tristan Webber, said: "The centres of fashion move around Milan, Paris and New York, but the new generation of London-based designers are now getting due recognition.

"London's designers have reinvented themselves to adopt to the fast-changing fashion trends and tastes."

Fiona Campbell of Quint-essentially said: "British fashion is undergoing a rennaissance."

Quintessentially an exclusive members' club whose clients include Gwyneth Paltrow, Madonna, Kate Moss and Jennifer Lopez operates as 'trend spotters', "which means that we can spot a new trend or design long before they hit the pages of haute couture magazines".

Their visit coincides with the Dubai World Cup, the world's richest horse race.

The World Cup Day tomorrow will see collections modelled for leading industry professionals and buyers from across the Gulf.