Dubai fashion exhibition Fashion Forward Dubai (FFWD), touted as the region’s definitive fashion platform, will return for an eighth season from October 20 to 23 at the Dubai Design District (d3).

The exhibition will showcase a carefully edited selection of the Middle East’s most coveted ready-to-wear, couture, accessory and jewellery designers.

As the central fashion platform championing Middle Eastern design talent, FFWD has propelled the careers of many designers. Most recently after showing at FFWD S7, Style.com/Arabia – DDFC Fashion Prize winner Hussein Bazaza debuted his Fall 2016 ready-to-wear collection on the online shopping platform Moda Operandi.

“Thanks to FFWD we had the opportunity to be in contact with Moda Operandi and we are glad to be available on their platform. I was very pleased with FFWD Season 7, as usual, and I was especially happy with the new location and found the event to be very professional and well-organized,” said Bazaza.

Dubai-based fine jewellery and accessories designer Madiso unveiled a collection of evening box clutches and statement necklaces on the international platform, Moda Operandi. Additionally, the popular online shopping website exclusively launched the Middle Eastern fine jewellery brand SeeMee. Founder Catherina Occhio delivered an empowering talk at FFWD S7 and created a special collection based on the shape of the heart which were handcrafted by women who were victims of violence.

Accessories designer and creative director of fashion brand Madiso, Madiha Muzaffar, commented: “Madiso has been part of Fashion forward since season 2, and the event has always been extremely successful for us. It is a great platform for the fashion industry in this region. FFWD Season 7 had international fashion buyers in attendance, which I believe is a great foot forward, and Moda Operandi, one of the biggest retailer names in the fashion industry, selected us for a trunk show. I’m extremely grateful to Fashion Forward for giving us this platform where we can interact with such huge international names.”

Longtime FFWD participant Rula Galayini was picked up by FarFetch during Season 7 and also received an invitation to reveal her signature cuffs at the iconic Galeries Lafayette Haussmann in Paris, among a select group of 10 emerging brands originating from the Mediterranean in 2015.

Bong Guerrero, chief executive and co-founder of FFWD, said: “With each season, the event has gained credibility and respect amongst designers and industry professionals. We have witnessed multiple success stories over the past four years of contributing designers gaining global recognition and are now stocked with some of the world’s leading retailers. Such accomplishments demonstrate how FFWD acts as a catalyst for international visibility and drives our commitment to invest in the platform with new and innovative elements each season.”

The upcoming four-day event will be hosted at the custom built space, Hai d3, where guests will see catwalk shows and presentations from regional designers, talks and panel discussions spearheaded by industry professionals, accessory and jewellery collections at ‘The Showcase’, as well new and international elements to be announced soon. 

Mohammad Saeed Al Shehhi, chief operating officer of Dubai Design District (d3), commented: “Dubai Design District is again delighted to be the home of Fashion Forward as it enters its eighth season. The platform has grown to become a significant event in Dubai’s design and fashion calendar and the partnership allows us to welcome designers, buyers and the regional fashion industry to our home and helps us enable our ambition of serving as a platform for nurturing the region’s design industry. We look forward to continuing to support FFWD in the future and enabling the industry to flourish.” –TradeArabia News Service