The 7th Arab Fashion Week has kicked off in its new venue Dubai Design District d3 with designers from the UAE, China and the UK, reinforcing the Emirate’s new status as a Unesco Creative City of Design.

Hosted by Rafeea Al-Hajsi, the world's first Emirati runway model, the opening of the event marked the eight-day city-wide fashion festival Dubai Fashion Days by Hala China.

Filipina superstar Maymay Entrada opened the event in glittering style, walking for celebrated UAE designer Amato Couture. Also presenting their collections were; Yara Bin Shakar (UAE), Old Times (China), THISNORTHAT (China) and emerging sustainable design talent Bav Couture (UK).

In an exciting week which promises several see-now-buy-now collections, Arab Fashion Week co-organised by Jolly Trust is the headline of Dubai Fashion Days, the pioneering cultural initiative which brings together the most powerful and influential fashion and development institutions of Dubai, through an innovative programme of fashion shows, retail pop-ups, industry talks and exhibitions.

 Amato Couture

Launched in 2002 UAE, Amato, which means ‘beloved’ in Italian, is the brainchild of the much-awarded creative designer Furne One, who partnered with textile expert Rashid Ali, to build this Avant Garde label. From the very first collection, Amato touched a chord with the region’s fashion elite. Inviting UAE’s beautiful women to a style renaissance, Amato broke the glass ceiling through a symphony of style and creativity.

 Bav Tailor

Bav Tailor is a collective fusion of sharp tailoring, geometrical forms and finest certified natural fabrics that represent true hallmarks of Made In Italy and Eco-Sustainability.

Born in London, Creative Entrepreneur Bav Tailor unites a team of modernistic creatives from her multiple homelands with one common interest; to re-construct the age-old techniques of tailoring with innovative cuts, eco-sustainable materials, and technology.

 Old Times

Shi Yejia graduated from Suzhou University of China with a major in Fashion Design. She has more than 20 years’ experience in design of garments for women.

Old Times, an e-commerce brand in Taobao, it was founded in 2008 in Beijing and has quickly become one of the most popular brands in China.

 THISNORTHAT

Lin Yu Bo and Tan Li Chen met in Istituto Marangoni Milan campus. The duo each come from different countries, China and Malaysia, respectively. Together, they devote themselves to exploring fashion’s contradictions that brings cohesiveness to forming a new genre. THISNORTHAT signifies the different possibilities that have no boundaries, no labelling, no rules and no gender.

 YARA BIN SHAKAR

Emirati fashion designer Yara Bin Shakar unveils her AW18 collection inspired by the vintage Hollywood era.

Perfect for the transitioning weather, the Autumn/Winter collection offers a bold new direction for the season, showcasing Hollywood’s distinctive brand during the artistic innovation of the American silent film period. – TradeArabia News Service