French Fashion University Esmod, the Dubai campus of the French fashion institution, has achieved major success at its first ever appearance in the Swarovsky Young Designer of the Year (YDY) Awards by winning a clean sweep of the Student Designer category that was judged during the Bride Show Dubai exhibition on April 14, 2007.
During the event, professional models showcased wedding gowns with an ‘audacity’ theme that were designed and created by regional fashion students from several universities. Judges selected the Award winners from the eleven finalists, based on criteria including originality, innovative use of Swarovski Crystals, use of fabrics, colours and trimmings, construction and final presentation.
Esmod student Mojeh Ashemnia, 25, was crowned as Swarovsky Young Designer of the Year, based on a nouveau-style design that combined modern elegance with sporting practicality. Fawaz Daker, 27, also an Esmod student, was awarded runner-up for his bridal design that was modern, feminine and incorporated his Arabic heritage.
Another Esmod student, Nada Abdel Khalek, 27, was crowned as Swarovski Innovation Award Winner, for her innovative use of Swarovski crystals on a mini-dress designed for a rebellious bride.
“This glamorous, prestigious and popular event has just given the next generation of Middle Eastern designers a kick-start in their careers and has also facilitated the emergence of a thriving fashion industry by encouraging fashion students to embrace their heritage to create innovative designs. This a huge achievement for us as our students have secured these very prestigious fashion awards after only six months of tuition and both the students and teachers have worked very hard to earn this victory,” said Tamara Hostal, Associate Director PR and Marketing, French Fashion University Esmod.
The YDY Award, currently in its eighth year, is intended to help young designers develop their skills by encouraging innovation in fashion design and is sponsored by Swarovski, an international leader in crystal design and manufacture. The growing popularity of the event confirms many industry insiders’ beliefs that the increase of fashion-oriented events in Dubai is supporting the fashion industry’s maturation from a passive consumer to a vigorous advocate of the latest trends.
“I congratulate all students for their outstanding performance in our first ever participation in the Awards and for their success in a very tough competition. As the only dedicated fashion school in Dubai, we are perfectly positioned to foster the next generation of leading designers and produce new benchmarks of style, quality and respect of fashion in the region,” Mrs Hostal added.
In October 2006, Esmod opened its Dubai-based French Fashion University to tap into the region’s booming fashion industry and the growing demand by Middle Eastern consumers for haute culture. Founded in Paris in 1841 by Frenchman Alexis Lavigne, Esmod has since opened schools in 20 countries and trained generations of professionals who have worked for stylists such as Dior, Saint-Laurent, Kenzo, Paco Rabanne, Gaultier and Givenchy and others.
The University offers a range of creative, technical and marketing programs for students wishing to become actors of the growing fashion industry in the region. Various courses are taught by the French-trained instructors, including a three-year full time bachelor’s course, a two-year part time diploma, a three or six month Fashion Workshop, a fashion summer course, Trend Forecasting & Fashion Media Communication Master-classes in addition to merchandising trainings for retailers.
