Vogue Italia and The Dubai Mall have teamed up again for the third edition of the Vogue Fashion Dubai Experience – and rumour has it that supermodel Naomi Campbell is one of the celebrity guests. Under the umbrella of the Dubai Design & Fashion Council, the two-day style extravaganza will feature a series of catwalk presentations, industry talks and lifestyle events. Numerous shops within the biggest mall in the world are also expected to participate through special promotions or live entertainment for shoppers.
Set to return this time around is a Designers Showcase, staged by The Dubai Mall, BySymphony.com and Vogue Italia. The interactive event, as in previous years, is focused on unearthing the next generation of creative talent. In a similar vein, a new addition to the VFDE schedule this October will be a scouting contest dubbed Who is on Next Dubai?.
Open to fashion designers from the Middle East, Asia and Africa, the competition will be divided into the three categories – womenswear, menswear and accessories. The winners from each segment will be chosen by an expert committee, the names of whom have not been confirmed but may include the Emirati founder of BySymphony
boutique, Salama Alabbar, and Campbell. Prizes up for grabs include invitations to attend fashion shows and sector events in Florence, Rome and Milan next year. The victors will also get the chance to showcase their collections at temporary pop-up store in Dubai Mall and on the e-commerce platform Yoox.
"Vogue Fashion Dubai Experience has achieved impressive stature globally in just two years." says Franca Sozzani, editor-in-chief of Vogue Italia. "Today, it is much awaited by the international fashion circuit not only because of Dubai's status as the new fashion capital but also to support and encourage next generation of fashion talent."
Organisers estimate that 2014 Vogue Fashion Dubai Experience welcomed more than one million visitors with approximately 200 fashion retailers in Dubai Mall supporting the initiative and boosting footfall.
Nez Gebreel, chief executive of the Dubai Design & Fashion Council, is confident the event will continue to go from strength to strength. “We are pleased to be officially supporting Vogue Fashion Dubai Experience,” she said. “The event complements the continuing concerted efforts of the council to set clear industry standards in the fashion industry and to enhance Dubai’s design scene by continuing to elevate the city’s status as a leading global fashion destination.”
Last year, the VFDE hosted a charity gala dinner which raised nearly Dh4 million for the World Food Programme. Celebrities in attendance included designer Roberto Cavalli, singer Janet Jackson and model Lily Cole. It has not yet been confirmed if a similarly stylish affair will round off the event this year.
• A schedule of designer shows, talks and related activities is expected to be released in the coming months. VFDE has free registration for the public. Go to www.vfdebyemaar.com
rduane@thenational.ae