The UAE’s capital is set to take a big step into the international fashion calendar with the launch of the Abu Dhabi Fashion Week.

Abu Dhabi is playing host to one of the great maestro’s of the global fashion industry – Valentino - who has been a world renowned designer for the last 45 years but is due to retire in January 2008.

The launch event of the Abu Dhabi Fashion Week, scheduled for March 17- 21, 2008,  will be one of the last shows that will feature a collection designed by the great man himself, the organisers said in  a statement.

This event will also provide a unique opportunity for a view of the latest trends in Arabian Fashion with Rami Al Ali, who will be showing his latest chic and elegant Collection, followed by the avant-garde look of Milia M, it added. 

These two champions of the Arabian Fashion World are leading the way in the launch event.  Many other leading regional and international designers will follow them down the Abu Dhabi Cat Walks, the organisers said.

Sponsors of Abu Dhabi Fashion Week are led by Aldar Properties and also include Emirates Palace Hotel, Gulf Horizons, and Proctor & Gamble Beauty.

“The Founding Sponsor for the ADFW is Aldar Properties – as soon as we spoke to them about ADFW they immediately seized the idea and realised the benefits that it could bring to Abu Dhabi, and working with them since then has been a joy – as a major property development company they understand the need to do things to an international standard and they also understand about ‘unleashing creative potential!’ The Emirates Palace Hotel – the venue for the launch event – is also a sponsor and the team have been incredibly helpful in putting together ideas as well as providing an absolutely amazing venue for the event – we can’t wait for our international designers, partners and VIP’s to see the ‘Palace!’ Right from the outset, Gulf Horizon and its team have been our sponsors and mentors in putting the ADFW together and have acted as champions of the ‘Abu Dhabi’ brand’!” said Alice Teeuwen of Maven.

“This will be a great event for Abu Dhabi and will complement the many other initiatives that the City is undertaking in business, culture, education, tourism and industry.  We are excited to be able to support the Abu Dhabi Fashion Week and to welcoming in Abu Dhabi these leading Designers and their many followers.  It is always a great pleasure to support events that combine hard core business with effervescent glamour, and which bring together the best of international and regional talents,” said James Khazaei, head of sales and leasing at Aldar.

“The hottest tickets in town are reported to be those select invitations for the “after party” following the Valentino Show ... Somebody has got them, but no-one seems to quite know who!” the organisers said. – TradeArabia News Service