High-end designers such as Hermes and Gucci are trying to break into the international Muslim fashion industry estimated to be worth over $96 billion, according to a leading fashion institution in Dubai.

French Fashion University Esmod - Dubai said the Arab fashion industry was set to broaden its global appeal following years of steady acceptance and the growing support of top fashion icons.

Consumers in non-Islamic fashion-conscious countries, such as France and the UK, with higher purchasing power are willing to spend more than $600 a year on high-end clothing, said Tamara Hostal, director and founder of Esmod Dubai.

'In the UK alone there are more than 1.5 million Muslims, so the market for Muslim fashion could be worth somewhere between $90 to 150 million a year,' she noted.

'At this rate, the 16 million Muslims in the European Union represent a potential clothing market valued at around $960 million to $1.5 billion a year,' she added.

Assuming that 50 per cent of the world’s 1.6 billion Muslims each spend at least $120 a year on modest clothing, the Muslim fashion industry is set to be worth over $96 billion, she pointed out.

According to Hostal, some Arabic style outfits can sell for as much as $10,000 and yet remain in high demand due to the robust economies of key markets such as the UAE.

'A Dubai-based company in fact sells abayas costing between $1,500 to 10,000. A client that spends at least $6,500 or more is given the privilege of acquiring a copyright for her personal abaya design,' she stated

“We can see Arabian styles steadily influencing European street fashion, which proves the potential of this emerging niche. Aside from making abayas decorated with crystal beads, pearls, embroidery, satin flowers, and other colorful adornments, designers are also introducing dramatic new styles, fabrics, and colors to Islamic dresses,' Hostal noted.

'For instance, a British designer offers an outfit which combines a hooded abaya with a matching niqab, or face veil, in eye-catching pink over a salwar, or loose pants, printed with an ornate English floral motif as part of her Imaan Collections,' she explained.

According to Hostal, high-end designers such as Hermes and Gucci are also trying to break into the Muslim market with scarves and other products.

Celebrity designers such as Christian Lacroix too have been integrating Arabic styles into their wardrobes as they are intrigued by the emphasis given to the design rather than the body, she pointed out.

A new generation of highly-talented designers such as Elie Saab, Robert Abi Nader Abed Mahfouz, Walid Attalah, Essa from the UAE and others continue to impress the fashion world with their fusion of modern and Muslim-inspired elements into their ensembles, she noted.

'Their works reflect the transition from plain and simple Arabic designs to more sophisticated creations that extensively use embroidered elements,' Hostal added.

According to her, the first all-Arab fashion event held in Europe last year, which was staged at London’s InterContinental Hotel under the theme ‘Arabian Fashion World,’ affirmed the coming-of-age of Muslim fashion through the impressive collections of five Arab designers from Saudi, Lebanon, the UAE, Morocco and Jordan.

More than 400 guests joined the landmark show including Middle Eastern Royalty, Arab and international ambassadors, celebrities, fashion industry buyers, other VIPs and media. The event was fully supported by the Arab-British Chamber of Commerce, she added.

'Another event, the inaugural edition of the ‘Arabian Kids Fashion Show,’ will showcase the latest products and accessories for Arabian kids under one roof at the COEX Korea Exhibition Center this coming May 2010,' Hostal observed.

Dubai-based French Fashion University Esmod has been influential in honing the skills of aspiring Arab fashionistas. It is one of 21 fashion schools overseen by the renowned Esmod International Fashion University Group.-TradeArabia News Service