Fashion Forward Season 4 designer line-up revealed

Fashion Forward season 4 (Courtesy: Fashion Forward)

The hotly-anticipated list of who will present at the fourth edition of Fashion Forward next month has just been announced. A total of 23 designers will reveal couture and ready-to-wear collections at the Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai from October 4-6. Here's who you'll want a front row seat for...
The couturiers:
Amato - A designer who needs no introduction, the Dubai-based Furne One will make his fourth appearance at FFWD next month. Celebrated both regionally and internationally for his impressive couture creations, One counts Katy Perry and Lady Gaga among his many celebrity clients.
Dany Tabet- the Lebanese designer Dany Tabet opened the doors to his atelier in 2007. Tabet creates one-off, detailed pieces which ooze elegance with the aim of making 'a woman feel beautiful inside and out'. 
Jean Louis Sabaji - The Lebanese couturier Sabaji first showed at FFWD in season three. He returns for S4 with a conceptual, daring collection, influenced by Mother Nature.
Michael Cinco - After wowing the fashion pack in FFWD S1, Cinco returns. The Dubai-based designer is best known for his ethereal gowns, which have amassed him an army of celebrity clients.
Zareena - Returning after a hugely successful S3 at FFWD, the Emirati designer Zareena Youssef will once again showcase her luxurious and elegant pieces this October. Yousef is expected to use her trademark embroidery and sumptuous fabrics again in this upcoming collection.
Pret-a-porter designers:
Asudari Studio - Originally from Saudi Arabia and now based in London, Lamia Asudari launched her label in 2007 and this season marks her second collection at FFWD. Lamia's passion lies in fabricating handcrafted prints. She is best-known for experimenting with different textured fabrics and bold silhouettes. 
Bashar Assaf - Having showcased at seasons one and two, under Rabih Kayrouz's mentorship with The Starch Foundation, last season Bashar Assaf showcased a standout solo collection for Fall 2014. The Lebanese fashion designer returns this season to showcase his eponymous label. His signature is bold geometry offset with unique materials and fabrics.
Ceremony - The Emirati designer Farha Al Shamsi will showcase her label Ceremony which uses eclectic materials to create modern yet traditional ready-to-wear.
Dima Ayad - Having showcased at seasons one and two, the Lebanese-born Dima Ayad returns to the FFWD runway this October. Ayad launched her eveningwear label in 2010 and strives to provide women with 'fashion that makes you feel good' irrespective of shape and size.
Endemage- Omani sisters, Nadia and Lubna, made their FFWD debut in season two and return next month with their ultra-feminine dresses and billowy evening gowns with Arabic-infused styles.
Essa - Essa Bhagoorwala returns for his fourth consecutive season at Fashion Forward. His eclectic collection is expected to weave together the traditional and the modern, with prints and cuts inspired by his Indian origins and Arab sensibilities.
Hasan Hejazi - TheLondon-based luxury label Hasan Hejazi specialises in glamourous yet contemporary eveningwear. Known for a powerful, ultra-feminine style Hejazi has also built up an enviable celebrity clientele having dressed Kylie Minogue, Eva Longoria and Fergie.
House of Hâshé- Dubai-based Iranian designer Ava Hashemi creates structured high-end ready-to-wear clothing and accessory lines for women. Check out her previous collections at
House of Ronald - Having made his FFWD debut last season, Ronald Abdala returns to showcase at season four. Of Lebanese descent, the London-born Abdala trained in Los Angeles, Beirut and London before being appointed senior designer for Maison Rabih Kayrouz in 2004. Shortly after this he launched his own line of womenswear.
Madiyah Al Sharqi - Returning for her second season at FFWD, the Emirati designer Sheikha Madiyah Al Sharqi offers effortless eveningwear with an updated edge, evolving the traditional vision of elegance. Her Highness is the daughter of the Ruler of Fujairah, Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi.
Maral - The Iranian designer Maral Yazaloo launched her label in Paris before taking it to Rome and basing it in India. The term "fusion-wear" characterises her collections as she maintains the balance between modernity and culture. Her collections are a beautiful blend of Middle Eastern aesthetics, Asian tastes and Western flavour.
Starch Foundation - Under Rabih Kayrouz's mentorship, young designers Timi Hayek and Jo Baaklini presented their first FFWD runway collections at season three to much acclaim. As they continue their year under the tutelage of Kayrouz, they will show their second collections this October.
Also showing under the Starch Foundation is Starch alumni and 2014 Woolmark Prize winner for womenswear in the Middle East and India, Rayya Morcos with her label Bird on a Wire Beirut-based Morcos' label features ready-to wear and jewellery using unexpected textures inspired by architecture and nature.
Tahir Sultan - Season four will be Sultan's fourth consecutive FFWD season. The Kuwaiti-Indian designer launched his own label in 2008 and in 2012 he became the first Kuwaiti designer to show at London Fashion Week. Sultan's luxurious pieces are characterised by fearless bold but feminine silhouettes.
Taller Marmo - Showing for their third season at FFWD, the Dubai-based design duo Riccardo Audisio and Yago Goicoechea's label merges European elegance with Middle Eastern charm and uses fine Italian tailoring with a minimal approach.
The Emporer 1688 - The Golkar brothers return to FFWD for their fourth season to showing their standout luxury men and womenswear. Their appearance follows their recent triumph as Menswear Winners of the 2014 Woolmark Prize for the Middle East and India. The British-Iranian trio set up the label in 2007 and are based in Dubai. Their collections combine sharp tailoring, with regal prints and European fabrics.
Velsvoir- Launched by brothers Zac, Zubair and Talha Timol in 2012, Velsvoir began by creating bespoke bow-ties and have since expanded to a range of mens and womens accessories and apparel. Velsvoir made their FFWD debut during season three.
*Fashion Forward S4 will take place at Dubai's Madinat Jumeirah from October 4-6. Registration for tickets will be online through the website and will be announced shortly.