From the 10th through the 15th of October, we marvelled for the umpteenth time as models from around the globe marched the catwalk donning glamourous designer outfits at the highly-anticipated Arab Fashion Week. Magnificent collections from world-class designers like Jean-Paul Gaultier, Nohama and Zaid Farouki were to be seen. Global celebrities and influencers were also present.
Held in Dubai, the Arab Fashion Week is one of the five most important fashion weeks globally, alongside Paris, New York, London, and Milan Fashion Weeks. It is held four times a year, with March and October for womenswear and January and June dedicated to menswear.
Sadly, we have had to stream the Arab Fashion Week online for the past two years due to the pandemic. But thankfully, this year, we got to witness this true embodiment of glitz and glamour once again in the Middle East’s fashion capital. And, of course, there was hardly any disappointment.
Notably, the Arab Fashion Week held in Dubai is the only platform that promotes Ready-Couture. With the market filled with ready-to-wear fashion, it’s easy to find an exact copy of your 10k-worth dress on someone else two cities away. And you thought, at that price point, you were the only owner of that specific design in the whole wide world.
Ready Couture is the solution for the luxury client who desires a piece of clothing exclusive to them. As the models march through the catwalk in Ready Couture, you can show interest in whichever one you desire and have it customized to your taste.
As significant as that is, I don’t consider it the most striking thing about the Arab Fashion Week. What really strikes me in all of this is how the Middle East became the venue of one of the world’s 5 most important fashion weeks.
Think about it. Milan, New York, Paris, and London; these are all cities renowned for their secular fashion. It’s not surprising to see global Fashion Weeks being held there. But it beats me that the Middle East, which is highly religious down to their attires, would become such a force to reckon with in the world of fashion.
This tells of the UAE’s strong will to be at the forefront of everything, including technology, architecture, medicine, and of course, fashion.
– By Maria Athanasiadou
