Fashion Forward, which for many years has been considered to be Dubai’s best style platform, returns to UAE for its eighth season.
The event, which will run from October 21 through October 23, features a breaking record number of best designers from near (local Dubai) and far.
Later this month, the event will include a line-up of 31 regional ready-to-wear and couture designers showcasing their 2017 Spring/Summer collections.
The highlight collection of Fashion Forward Dubai 2017 will be from Dubai-based couturier Furne One of Amato as well as Ezra from the Philippines.
Saudi Arabia’s Arwa Al Banawi, Lebanon’s Dima Ayad and French-Algerian designer Faiza Bouguessa are also set to showcase their original fashion creations at FFD 2017.
The following designers will rock this year’s Fashion Forward’s runway:
The event will also allow some aspiring designers to make their debut: Qatari brand HZ by Hissa Zainal, Omani designer Amal Al Raisi, and French-Egyptian designer Mariam Yehia (Keepa).
Zareena, a major fashion house in Emirati, by designer Zareena Yousif is also set to wow the guests of the fashion show. Meanwhile, the label of Sheikha Madiyah Al Sharqi will make its return to the FFD.
But the fashion event will not only showcase apparel pieces, as 14 jewelry and accessory designers are also set to present their Spring/Summer 2017 stylish pieces. Their presentations will be held in a space called The Showcase, and the list of designers includes Bana Sunglasses, Belquis Bags, and Natalie Trad.
The event will be ended with a roundtable and interactive sessions to discuss Dubai’s place in the fashion world, the current retail trends, as well as tackle such topics as source funding and brand development.
Fashion Forward Dubai – Spring Summer 2017 will run from October 21 through October 23, while the tickets range from Dh50 to Dh200.
This year, La Mode A Beyrouth, a fashion show in Beirut, returns for its second autumn edition to showcase Spring Summer 2017 collections by Lebanese designers.
The event, which premiered last year, has the goal to compete with other international fashion capitals as well as to give emerging fashion designers from Lebanon the opportunity to present their fashion creations.
La Mode A Beyrouth will run from October 17 through October 22 and is brought to you by L.I.P.S. Management. The event will be held at Forum de Beyrouth and will feature a great number of established and aspiring fashion designers from Lebanon.
Before La Mode A Beyrouth officially kicks off its collections, there will be a red carpet event for fashion industry insiders and their close friends and family.
Another reason why organizers created the La Mode fashion event was to bring back Lebanese designers from other fashion capitals, where they are regularly showcasing their Fall/Winter and Spring/Summer collections.
Lebanon needs its designers to improve the economy and promote the country’s fashion industry. In fact, last year’s first edition of La Mode A Beyrouth was a huge success both internationally and domestically, which is why it’s not surprising why so many emerging Lebanese designers signed up to participate this year.
For this year’s edition, La Mode partners with BoConcept, which makes urban design, as well as Make Up For Ever, which focuses on makeup products.
This year’s lineup of fashion designers includes the Lebanese designer Sandra Rizk, international brand BCBGMAXAZRIA, the Lebanese international designer Nicolas Jebran, as well as last year’s La Mode winner of BYFDC, Géyanna Youness.
Here’s the schedule of La Mode A Beyrouth 2017:
Each participant will be judged by a panel of judges, and the winner will get gifts and a cash prize.
Amazon India Fashion Week (AIFW) Spring Summer 2017 is definitely the most important fashion event this fall for both India and the entire South Asia.
The AIFW will run from October 12 through October 16 and will showcase fashion creations by local designers. It’s a great opportunity for Indian designers to make a statement and promote their collections not just for locals, but also for international buyers.
The Amazon India Fashion Week 2017 will be held at the NSIC Grounds in Okhla, and the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) announced that the first two days will be dedicated to Indian handlooms and textiles.
In fact, the handlooms are a true legacy for India. That’s why some 23 Indian designers will showcase their creative views on handlooms and how you can incorporate them into street style.
In total, there will be 110 designers participating at the AIFW, including akaaro by Gaurav Jai Gupta, Anita Dongre, Krishna Mehta, Samant Chauhan, Ashish & Vikrant, and more internationally recognized Abraham & Thakore and Anavila.
The main theme of the AIFW 2017 is India Modern Festive, which is why organizers aim at showcasing and preserving India’s cultural heritage.
The FCDI claims that this year’s AIFW is aimed at merging the past, present and future of India. In fact, through the event’s meaningful initiatives, designers are reviving India’s the handloom sector thanks to the #iwearhandloom campaign started by Textile Minister Smriti Irani.
This year’s edition of AIFW will open with the re-interpretation of chanderi, while the opening showwill be dedicated to a guru-shishya (Master and Disciple) presentation by designers JJ Valaya and Alpana-Neeraj.
Overall, Amazon India Fashion Week is a great way to not only revive India’s handlooms and textiles but the best opportunity (at least in 2016) to promote local designers’ fashion ideas. 
Johnny Fadlallah, October 9, 2016