Fashion Industry Heavyweights Support Inaugural Fashion Forward Through Extensive Developmental Programming
Panels, Talks and Workshops Underpin Eighteen Runway Presentations at Four-Day Event
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Heavyweights from the fashion industry’s leading academic institutions, international editors, celebrated designers, and high-end buyers are lending support to the inaugural Fashion Forward (FFWD) later this month, sharing their insider perspectives in a series of talks, workshops and panels at the Madinat Jumeirah from 26-29 April.
Making up a developmental programme which runs alongside eighteen catwalk presentations from the most dynamic designers working in the Middle East, senior industry leaders from Milan’s Domus Academy, London College of Fashion, New York-based Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) and the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), will be joined by leading designers, journalists and buyers in discussions on breaking through into the fashion sector, managing a fashion label, and fashion brand development. All sessions are available to the public by invitation, and interested participants can register for limited places by visiting www.fashionforward.ae. (See supporting quotes by participating institutions on the following page.)
“Fashion Forward’s developmental programme brings together some of the most respected fashion institutions globally to provide personal perspective and insight on how the Middle East’s fashion sector can develop and operate on a wider international level,” said Bong Guerrero, CEO and creative director of FFWD. “Education, debate and candid discussion are critical to the growth of the fashion business across the Middle East, and Fashion Forward’s diverse range of programming meets a real need for this industry.”
Making his first-ever visit to the Middle East is CFDA’s CEO, Steven Kolb, who oversees all operations and activities for the American fashion industry’s preeminent designer trade association, and its affiliated charity. CFDA membership consists of more than 400 of America’s leading womenswear, menswear, jewellery and accessory designers. As part of FFWD, Kolb will provide commentary on how to nurture a fashion trade body for the Middle East.
“Fashion is a global business, and to succeed designers need to understand international markets,” said Steven Kolb. “American designers are interested in doing business in the Middle East, and Middle Eastern designers are interested in America. For the CFDA to be a part of Fashion Forward allows us to help bridge these opportunities.”
Also participating in FFWD is the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT). Barbara La Monica, an FIT Mentor & Founding Partner of La Monica-Baas Group, and Bruce Bass, Adjunct Professor at FIT’s School of Graduate Studies, Global Fashion Management, will hold a talk on “The International Retail Environment”, to discuss what buyers look for in different markets. To enhance this session, they will be joined by the influential Saudi-based buyer Faris Al Shehri, Managing Director of Maison Bo-M, and David Dessureault, Senior Buyer for Saks Fifth Avenue Middle East.
Other key speakers at FFWD are Domus Academy’s dean, Gianluigi Ricuperati, a writer and essayist, who will present on ‘Fashion is another way of breaking the Wall’.
Barbara Trebitsch, Head of Domus Academy Fashion School will also give a lecture entitled ‘Fashion and material consciousness, Domus Academy Fashion School’, which will include a selection of the most relevant student or alumni projects and collections.
Toby Meadows, a lecturer at London College of Fashion, and author of bestseller ‘How to Set up & Run a Fashion Label’, will address the issue of ‘How to develop a career in fashion’.
Celebrated Lebanese designer Rabih Kayrouz will participate in a panel discussion alongside Louise Nichol, Editor in Chief of Harper’s Bazaar Arabia, and Zayan Ghandour – Co Founder, Head Buyer and Creative Director of s*uce, on creating a unique identity for Middle Eastern designers, and how to set themselves apart from other major fashion weeks.
Rabih Kayrouz will also lead a presentation on his non-profit organisation, STARCH, which encourages and nurtures emerging fashion talent in Lebanon. He will talk about its formation, the challenges he has faced, and how the foundation has progressed over the years.
Complementing FFWD’s compelling public programme are catwalk presentations, a pop-up accessories shop, and supporting events. As a bi-annual fashion platform, FWD aims to be the region’s definitive movement to foster growth and enrichment for designers, the Middle East’s retail sector and the industry as a whole.
Quotes from Fashion Forward participating speakers:
“I highly value Domus Academy’s participation to Fashion Forward event because I think that Dubai is more and more a hub not only for commerce and exchanges but also, and especially, for ideas. And ideas must be the essential element of our research and commitment to the progress of students. These kinds of symposia are a crucial step towards an even more integrated and even more international laboratory for knowledge.” — Gianluigi Ricuperati, Dean, Domus Academy
“Buying is such a vital part of the industry, and for Fashion Forward guests, and also emerging designers, to be able to learn more on the intricacies of this side of the business is a really positive step to bolstering the region’s success internationally. FIT is a world renowned institution, and their input has been invaluable to my career and through this talk we hope to educate and inspire many more.”– David Dessureault, Senior Buyer Saks Fifth Avenue Middle East.
“London College of Fashion (LCF) sees FFWD as an integral part of our visibility in the Middle East. Our short courses held in Dubai have already helped many young designers and aspiring labels succeed in the industry. As one of the first academic partners of FFWD we’re able to help foster debate around many of the key issues facing the fashion industry and help nurture the best of the region’s emerging talent.” — Toby Meadows, Lecturer, London College of Fashion in Dubai.
| PROGRAMME OF EVENTS – 26th-29th April | |
| DAY 1 – April 26th – FRIDAY | |
| TIME | |
| 12:00 PM | Media Brunch * By invitation only |
| Fashion Brunch | |
| 02:00 PM | Growing The Region’s Emerging Talent |
| R.Kayrouz –Maison Rabih Kayrouz | |
| 03:00 PM | Starch Foundation Designers |
| 03:30 PM | Significance of Arab Media in the Growth of the Fashion Industry – M.Badr/ Hia Magazine |
| 04:00 PM | Whyesse |
| 05:00 PM | Rani Zakhem |
| 05:30 PM | How to Budget for Your Next Collection |
| F.I.T (B LaMonica ) | |
| 07:00 PM | Glam Hour |
| The Narrowing Gap Between Couture and Pret – ( Rami Al Ali, WWD and special guests) | |
| 08:00 PM | Emperor 1688 |
| 08:30 PM | Essa |
| 09:30 PM | Tahir Sultan |
| 10:00 PM | FFWD After Party |
| Sponsored Social Event | |
| Fashion Show | |
| Developmental Program | |
| DAY 2 – April 27th – SATURDAY | |
| TIME | |
| 12:00 PM | Fashion Brunch |
| 01:30 PM | Your Future in Fashion. How to Get a Job in this Industry |
| London College of Fashion (T.Meadows) | |
| 03:00 PM | Middle Eastern Fashion: An Identity in the Making |
| Sauce (Z.Ghandour), Maison Rabih Kayrouz (R.Kayrouz), Harpers Bazaar Arabia (L.Nichol) | |
| 04:00 PM | Dima Ayad |
| 04:30 PM | Ladies Haute Tea |
| Fashion and Material Consciousness, Domus Academy Fashion School – B.Trebitsch | |
| 05:00 PM | Kage |
| 06:00 PM | Ezra |
| 06:30 PM | The International Retail Environment F.I.T. (B.Bass),SAKS (D.Dessureault), Maison BO-F (Faris Al Sheri, WWD, (R.Upadhyay) |
| 07:00 PM | Glam Hour |
| 08:00 PM | Rami Kadi |
| Presented by IN magazine | |
| 09:00 PM | Toujouri |
| 09:30 PM | Michael Cinco |
| DAY 3 – SUNDAY April 28th | |
| TIME | |
| 12:00 PM | Fashion Brunch |
| 01:00 PM | The Fusion and Evolution of Fashion and Hair Trends |
| L’Oreal Professionnel, Paris (G. Carmichael) | |
| 02:30 PM | How to Start Your Own Fashion Label |
| London College of Fashion (T.Meadows), Toujouri, (L. El Moatassem) Emperor 1688 (Babak Golkar) | |
| 03:00 PM | Tresors Sauvages |
| Emerging Talent Winners – Grazia ME | |
| 04:00 PM | Amira Haroon |
| 04:30 PM | Fashion is Another Way of Breaking the Wall |
| Domus Academy, (G.Ricuperati) | |
| 05:30 PM | Dina JSR |
| 07:00 PM | Glam Hour |
| 08:00 PM | Zayan |
| 08:30 PM | Amato |
| 09:30 PM | Ayesha Depala |
| 10:00 PM | Sponsored After Party |
| DAY 4 – MONDAY April 29th | |
| Time | Event |
| 12:00 PM | CFDA/FFWD Lunch- *By invitation only |
| Keynote by S.Kolb, CFDA CEO | |
| The New Generation: How the CFDA Supports Emerging Talent | |
About Fashion Forward (FFWD)
Fashion Forward (FFWD) aims to be the definitive fashion platform for Dubai and the Middle East — a fashion movement which provides a platform and a progressive direction for fashion. Key components of FFWD include catwalk presentations by established and emerging designers in the Middle East, the Fashion Forum – an educational module to foster industry discussion, and an awards programme to recognize regional pioneers. A biannual event delivered by Brag, the region’s most trusted live marketing agency, FFWD’s first edition will take place from 26-29 April 2013.
www.fashionforward.ae
