(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Rome wasn't built in a day. Neither was fashion. From frolicking fashionistas to dapper men who take their pattern and colour choices seriously, there is nothing more enjoyable than shopping. From The Dubai Mall to a boutique on Jumeirah Beach Road, or even scrolling through a website, the process of shopping is usually easy and fun.
But how many times have we thought about what it takes for that one item of clothing to end up on the rack? The fashion journey isn't as glamorous as you might think. Whether you're building your brand or simply love clothes, Fashion Forward is here to educate, encourage and elevate the local fashion industry.
As we all know fashion is all about change and what's coming up next. For its seventh season, the fashion platform is undergoing some radical and exciting changes, a new endorsement by the Dubai Design & Fashion Council (DDFC), a new venue and of course new designers. With a much more industry focused season, we break down who and what to expect in the seventh season of Fashion Forward.
New Home
After three years and six seasons, FFWD is moving homes. While the Madinat Jumeirah venue was suitable to introduce the platform to the public, FFWD is changing and change is always good. As they enter their 7th season, FFWD is moving to Dubai Design District (d3) a space that is to be the nucleus of Dubai's design and fashion community. d3 can offer a more suitable environment and space which fits with FFWD's vision to place showcasing designers in an international environment and starting the process of propelling them on to the international stage.
Urban, contemporary, and very current, the new bespoke venue consists of discarded containers that have been transformed into cool spaces complete with Arabian banner shields and wind towers. The containers will house the d3 fashion talks, the Showcase which features accessory and jewellery designers, F&B outlets and networking spaces.
New Focus
With the recent endorsement by the DDFC, it's not only a new venue that's changed the face of FFWD, it's a much more industry focused season. To keep it simple, more international buyers present at FFWD means more of a chance for our local designers to get international exposure or critique to improve their brand. FFWD has partnered with Muriel Piaser Consulting to bring buyers from Fenwick (U.K.), Galeries Lafayette (France), Harvey Nichols (Hong Kong), Neiman Marcus (U.S.), and Printemps (France) to attend all shows and meet with each designer. We asked the key players behind FFWD and the Dubai Fashion industry their thoughts.
"What characterises each new FFWD season, is that we build upon the learnings from our previous seasons. Having the valuable support and endorsement of the Dubai Design and Fashion Council has been a result of this growth as we have worked hard to ensure that each season FFWD is providing the best possible platform for regional designers. So what is new this season is an increased focus on business and commercial viability. "
Bong Guerrero, founder of FFWD
"As we strive to support our designers with the commercial aspect of their brands, our focus is firmly on buyers. We are also hosting a panel discussion as part of the 'd3 Fashion Talks' specifically on the subject of how a brand can be picked up by a department store. The commercial success of our designers is paramount and with each season we listen to their needs and adapt the platform accordingly to provide the best support and advice on the issues their brands face on a day-to-day basis."
Ramzi Nakid, COO of FFWD
"The Dubai Design and Fashion Council endorses events that contribute to our vision of making Dubai the emerging design capital of the world and Fashion Forward is closely aligned with this mandate. We have worked together with Fashion Forward to help create a season that will, more than ever, be focused on bringing value to the designers and shining a spotlight on the talent from the region; we hope to see this amplified in the seasons and years to come."
Nez Gebreel, CEO of DDFC
Click here to see which new designers to look out for and which of our favorites are returning with new collections.
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