The Dubai International Fashion Week (DIFW) has commenced a talent hunt competition.

The month-long hunt offers a platform to the regional talent to bring their work face to face with local, regional and international players in the fashion industry, said an official spokesman.

The last day for sending in the entries is August 15.

A rigorous selection procedure will identify three winners from amongst the several entrants based on a set of judging criteria. The panel comprising the members of the advisory board shall look at concept and design, choice of fabric and commercial viability of the collection, while deciding the chosen ones.

The winners will then gain an opportunity to unveil their designs for the summer of 2008 in front of an audience drawn from amongst the best of fashion connoisseurs; fashion followers, commentators and buyers.

Mandatory for participation is a presence of less than two years in the business with at least one collection to their credit. The collection entered should showcase women's ready-to-wear.

The short-listed candidates will then be put through a rigorous interview with the panel which will evaluate their understanding of the concepts developed and advice towards the final collections.

'The first edition of DIFW saw participation from both established and emerging talent from the region and outside,' said project manager of DIFW Nayla Yared.

'Building on the tremendous goodwill generated after the first event, the October edition will continue to focus on designers from the Middle East while simultaneously reaching out to more international buyers in a sustained bid to take the regional fashion industry to the centre stage of global trends,' she concluded.- TradeArabia News Service