It was standing room only on the last night of the inaugural Abu Dhabi Fashion Week at the Emirates Palace Hotel yesterday (18th March). The Emilio Pucci House had the honour of closing a highly successful four-day fashion extravaganza, and the ‘Prince of Prints’, didn't disappoint the invitation crowd of more than 900 people with a stunning array of its trademark colourful prints.
The evening had opened with an auction of a fashion collection created by UAE fashion design students that demonstrated the rich talent pool in the country. The collection, the work of twenty-one young ladies from the Sheikh Zayed Private Academy, raised more than AED130,000 for the Centre for Special Needs 'Buy a Brick’ campaign.
As on previous nights, much attention was directed on the rising stars of the regional fashion industry who presented a selection of highly creative designs. Yesterday, Amina Al Jassim, one of Saudi Arabia’s top designers, displayed her unique creations and these were followed by Lebanese fashion house Gardem's couture line.
Earlier in the week, Aisha Desmal, Milia M, Moe Khadra, Layla Kouris, Albino, Rabih Kayrouz, Rabia Z, Gardem, Amber Feroz and Hassan Sheheryar Yasin had all displayed their talents on the international stage as the event drew buyers and representatives of leading regional and international brands, retailers, fashion magazines and media. Guests included: Vittorio Missoni, Albino D’Amato, Maria Luisa Trussardi, and Giuseppe Rossi (Calvin Klein).
Regional and international buyers who flew in, included those from Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue (USA and KSA), Harvey Nichols (KSA), along with key opinion makers from the fashion world such as the Editors-in-Chief of Vogue and of Elle magazines. The Italian delegation was led by Mario Boselli, the President of Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana, organisers of Milan Fashion Week.
Alice Teeuwen, chairman of Maven Corporate Limited who in collaboration with Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana, created Abu Dhabi Fashion Week, said she was delighted with the positive response from the designers and the industry representatives and plans were in hand for a second Fashion Week later this year.
"Connectivity’ was central to the strategy of the Abu Dhabi Fashion Week as the modern business environment is all about connectivity," she said. "From the reactions of those who participated in or attended this inaugural event, we went a long way to achieving our goal and connections were made in a variety of ways from designers with buyers, retail developments with fashion houses and the public with the latest from the world of fashion.
"We aim to continue the momentum and plans for the second Abu Dhabi Fashion Week to show Spring and Summer collections later this year, are well underway," she added.
Sponsors for the Abu Dhabi Fashion Week include ALDAR - the Foundation Sponsor - and Mubadala, Etihad, Proctor and Gamble and Emirates Palace.
