The Dubai Mall and Vogue Italia launch talent-scouting competition for ‘next generation’ fashion designers

– The Dubai Mall Fashion Designers Talent Scouting competition sets the platform for the second Vogue Fashion Dubai Experience in 2014
– Winning designers to be mentored by international fashion experts; their works to be showcased at Vogue Fashion Dubai Experience
– BySymphony.com, the Middle East’s home of international luxury fashion online, to curate the competition

Dubai, UAE; January 27, 2014: Young fashion designers from across the world now have the opportunity to be spotted by the who’s who of international fashion industry and secure their place in the league of celebrity designers.

The Dubai Mall, the world’s largest shopping and entertainment destination, and Vogue Italia, one of the world’s most influential fashion magazines, have joined hands to launch a talent scouting competition to identify and nurture the next generation of fashion designers.

The Dubai Mall – Vogue Talent initiative follows the success of the inaugural Vogue Fashion Dubai Experience, the Middle East’s largest of its kind fashion event organised by Emaar Properties and Vogue Italia at The Dubai Mall in October 2013.

The scouting competition also serves as the run-up to the second edition of Vogue Fashion Dubai Experience to be held in 2014, with the chosen young designers to be mentored by fashion experts and their works showcased at the high-fashion event.

BySymphony (www.bysymphony.com), the Middle East’s home of international luxury fashion online, will curate The Dubai Mall – Vogue Talent Fashion Designers Talent Scouting competition.

Mohamed Alabbar, Chairman of Emaar Properties, said: “The inaugural Vogue Fashion Dubai Experience set a new benchmark for the fashion industry in the Middle East region, and defined Dubai as a global fashion capital. One of the core priorities of organising the event was to provide a truly global platform for young designers, and put the spotlight of the international fashion industry on the amazing talent in the region.

“We are now taking it to the next level through The Dubai Mall – Vogue Talent competition, which will enable our young talents to step into the limelight and establish their credentials as the next generation international designers.”

Franca Sozzani, Editor-in-Chief of Vogue Italia said: “Dubai today is the must-be place for the global fashion industry, and The Dubai Mall, a definitive fashion destination. The city serves as the hub for talent across the region to attract international attention through Vogue Fashion Dubai Experience. Our global talent scouting competition, aimed at young designers, will further elevate the city’s credentials in the fashion industry.”

Salama Alabbar of BySymphony.com said: “We are delighted to partner on this path-breaking talent scouting competition, which will give young designers a truly remarkable platform to establish their identity and leave a distinct imprint in the global fashion industry. Since our inception, our focus has been to nurture youth talent in the region, several of whom have a window to reach out to discerning fashion lovers through our online portal. The Dubai Mall – Vogue Talent initiative will be a true inspiration for young fashion designers.”

Young designers, with brands that have been established for at least a year, can email their application before April 2014 to: [email protected]. They should provide a short biography, a written description of the collection’s inspiration, hi-res photographs or videos of already produced collections, and information about the brand’s distribution channels. For more details, log on to: http://bysymphony.com/scouting2014.

At the inaugural Vogue Fashion Dubai Experience, The Dubai Mall hosted a fashion show featuring works by eight international young designers, including four from the Arab world. The event was attended by the world’s fashion celebrities, and provided the emerging talent a much-needed boost, strengthening their confidence and expanding their career prospects.

The designers who presented their collections at the event included Wadha Al Hajri from Qatar; Mohammed Ashi and Razan Alazzouni from Saudi Arabia; Lulwa Al Amin from Bahrain; Ituen Basi from Nigeria; Simone Rocha from Ireland; Andrea Incontri from Italy; and Esme Vie from Russia.

In an unmatched showcase of fashion, more than 250 leading brands that operate flagship outlets at The Dubai Mall also presented their latest style trends at Vogue Fashion Dubai Experience. Exclusive fashion creations and lifestyle experiences were auctioned at a charity dinner gala at The Pavilion, Burj Khalifa, and the proceeds donated to Dubai Cares, the charity founded by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, to promote children’s education in developing countries across the world.

Vogue Fashion Dubai Experience is a flagship event hosted at The Dubai Mall, located in the heart of the prestigious Downtown Dubai mixed-use development. The mall has over 1,200 retail outlets, two anchor department stores and features the 440,000 sq ft Fashion Avenue, dedicated to high fashion. For more information visit www.thedubaimall.com or follow on Twitter (@TheDubaiMall; #VFDE), Facebook, or Instagram.

About The Dubai Mall:
Located in the heart the prestigious Downtown Dubai, described as ‘The Centre of Now,’ is The Dubai Mall, the world’s largest shopping and entertainment destination and the world’s most-visited shopping and leisure destination. The mall is embarking on an ambitious expansion strategy to add 1 million sq ft of additional retail, entertainment and leisure space.

With a total internal floor area of 5.9 million sq ft, The Dubai Mall has 3.77 million sq ft of gross leasable space and over 1,200 retail outlets including two anchor department stores – Galeries Lafayette and Bloomingdale’s – and over 200 food and beverage outlets as well as over 14,000 car parking spaces.

The Fashion Avenue, a 440,000 sq ft fashion precinct dedicated to high fashion, positions The Dubai Mall as the fashion capital for the region. Other niche components of the mall include The Souk, an elegantly designed precinct featuring jewellery shops, accessory outlets, traditional Arab clothing and handicraft stores, among others; and The Village, that offers a rich collection of denim brands and brings an outdoor community feel with tree-lined walkways, cafés and restaurants.

The Dubai Mall features the world-class Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo featuring thousands of aquatic animals and a 270-degree walkthrough tunnel. The strong family entertainment components include KidZania®, an innovative children’s ‘edutainment’ concept; SEGA Republic, a 76,000 sq ft high adrenaline indoor theme park; the 22-screen Reel Cinemas megaplex with a total capacity of 2,800 seats; and the Olympic-sized Dubai Ice Rink.

The Dubai Mall is directly linked to The Address Dubai Mall, a world-class hotel, and the Dubai Metro through a state-of-the-art travellator.

Along the mall’s sprawling waterfront promenade, is the world’s most spectacular outdoor musical water fountain – The Dubai Fountain – with lights, water jets and laser projections choreographed to themed music and songs. Spanning a length of over 275 m, the fountain’s powerful water nozzles shoot water sprays of over 450 ft (equivalent to a 45-storey building).

The Dubai Mall acts as a gateway for visitors to Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building. Tickets to At the Top, Burj Khalifa, the world’s highest observatory deck with an outdoor terrace, are available exclusively to visitors of The Dubai Mall. For more information, visit www.thedubaimall.com. Follow The Dubai Mall on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TheDubaiMall; and on Twitter: @thedubaimall

About Condé Nast in Italy:
Edizioni Condé Nast Spa, entirely owned by Condé Nast International, is Italy’s leading publisher of upscale titles. The company publishes 15 magazines (including a weekly title): Vogue, L’Uomo Vogue, Vogue Bambini, Vogue Gioiello, Vogue Sposa, Glamour, AD, Sposabella, Condé Nast Traveller, GQ, Vanity Fair, GQ Style, Vogue Accessory, Wired, Myself.

Founded in 1964, Vogue Italia is the most influential Italian fashion magazine in the world. Headed by Editor Franca Sozzani since 1988, over the years it has become an icon of style and elegance. Not only has Vogue never followed the styles of other magazines, but it has created its own styles, paving the way for others, especially in the way of photographers, graphic design, models, stylists, and obviously, for fashion services.
Vogue Italia comes out in 12 issues each year and includes important supplements such as Vogue Unique, dedicated to high fashion and luxury, Casa Vogue, a unique showcase of interior designers, Shopping in Vogue and Beauty in Vogue.

About BySymphony.com:
Curated by Emirati entrepreneur, Salama Alabbar, the Symphony boutique began as a vision to meet the needs of women much like herself, who love fashion and enjoy shopping renowned designer brands from the world over, alongside new and exciting rising stars. The concept of Symphony was born in 2010 – The Dubai Mall’s first and only luxury concept multi-brand boutique.

Symphony was the first luxury fashion concept to bring high profile designers, editors and fashion personalities to the region, and has opened its doors in welcoming many internationally renowned industry insiders to Dubai including Anna Dello Russo, Rupert Sanderson, Christian Siriano, Whitney Port, Miroslava Duma, Tommy Ton, Erin Fetherson, Raina Hein, Camilla Skovgaard and Felicity Brown.

Believing firmly in the act of “giving back,” Symphony collaborates with a selected charity each and every season. Through events, auctions and other charitable incentives, Sympony’s clients have helped raise funds for charities such as FACE Africa, Oxfam UK and Dubai Cares.