Fashion Fever founder Kawthar Bin Sulayem says the F1-inspired collections will range from concert attire to elaborate after-party gowns. Ravindranath K / The National
Fashion Fever founder Kawthar Bin Sulayem says the F1-inspired collections will range from concert attire to elaborate after-party gowns. Ravindranath K / The National

Formula 1 meets fashion at the Fashion Fever Grand Prix

Kawthar Bin Sulayem, founder of the runway night, talks about the need for such an event. 

Hafsa Lodi

November 24, 2015

The second edition of Fashion Fever Grand Prix, a runway show featuring local designers and a high-profile audience, will kick off tomorrow at Shangri-La Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi.

Four designers were asked to come up with collections – ready-to-wear and couture designs in womenswear, menswear and kidswear – that represent fashionable outfits for F1-related events, from viewing the races to attending after-parties.

There’s also a charitable aspect to Fashion Fever. Shangri-La teamed up with Make-A-Wish Foundation UAE, inviting the public to place bids on Grand Prix memorabilia.

Later, a silent auction will be held, with proceeds going to Make-A-Wish. In addition, there will be a Best Dressed competition during the night – the winner gets two tickets from Etihad Airways to any destination in Europe. Contests have been launched on social media to give the public an opportunity to win tickets to the one-day extravaganza.

Kawthar Bin Sulayem, founder of the runway night, talks about the need for such an event.

What is your day job?

I am the owner and chief executive of KBS Communications – a PR agency that specialises in public relations and advertising services in Abu Dhabi. I run Fashion Fever as a brand, and in parallel to KBS ­Communications.

How were the designers chosen?

I personally choose them with my team. I am not interested in empowering the already empowered, but mixing it up by showcasing international designers with the emerging ones. Each of the designers have a unique point of view, a distinctive style and all the creations are absolutely stunning and apt for the show.

What was their design brief?

To showcase creations that would seamlessly fit the theme of “Fashion during F1”. For example, Trio Couture, Julea Domani and ShoSho Bella have developed an exclusive collection for the show that focuses on fashion wear that can be worn at the grandstand, ­paddock, ­Paddock club, concert, dinner or the after-party.

How will you ensure a VIP presence at Fashion Fever?

I have a decade-long experience in public relations, especially in the field of F1, arts and lifestyle, and know the kind of audience fit for this event. Fashion Fever Grand Prix will see UAE’s swish set, members of the royal family, fashion buyers, designers and journalists, F1 drivers, business leaders, C-suite executives and ambassadors in attendance. Furthermore, our sponsors have their sets of VIP’s too.

There are several fashion shows around the year in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Why do you think Fashion Fever stands out?

Fashion Fever is the only fashion show in the region that is built around a major sporting or cultural event with the intent to celebrate fashion for and around the event. With Fashion Fever Grand Prix 2015 we are talking about fashion during F1 and in the coming years, our brand will be associated with other prestigious events such as golf, polo and the arts.

• To win a ticket to the event, follow Fashion Fever on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @­FashionFeverUAE

hlodi@thenational.ae

RESULT

Arsenal 1 Chelsea 2
Arsenal: Aubameyang (13')
Chelsea: Jorginho (83'), Abraham (87') 

 

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Gender equality in the workplace still 200 years away

It will take centuries to achieve gender parity in workplaces around the globe, according to a December report from the World Economic Forum.

The WEF study said there had been some improvements in wage equality in 2018 compared to 2017, when the global gender gap widened for the first time in a decade.

But it warned that these were offset by declining representation of women in politics, coupled with greater inequality in their access to health and education.

At current rates, the global gender gap across a range of areas will not close for another 108 years, while it is expected to take 202 years to close the workplace gap, WEF found.

The Geneva-based organisation's annual report tracked disparities between the sexes in 149 countries across four areas: education, health, economic opportunity and political empowerment.

After years of advances in education, health and political representation, women registered setbacks in all three areas this year, WEF said.

Only in the area of economic opportunity did the gender gap narrow somewhat, although there is not much to celebrate, with the global wage gap narrowing to nearly 51 per cent.

And the number of women in leadership roles has risen to 34 per cent globally, WEF said.

At the same time, the report showed there are now proportionately fewer women than men participating in the workforce, suggesting that automation is having a disproportionate impact on jobs traditionally performed by women.

And women are significantly under-represented in growing areas of employment that require science, technology, engineering and mathematics skills, WEF said.

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